Aligned National Action Plan to Combat Land Degradation ...

Aligned National Action Plan to Combat Land Degradation, Guyana

1


2

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements………………………………………………………………………….…….4

Foreword…………………………………………………….…………………………………….7

Foreword by UNDP Resident Representative, Guyana………………………………..………….9

Acronyms……………………………………………………………………………………..….10

List of Figures…………………………………………………………………………...……….15

List of Tables…………………………………………………………………………………….15

List of Boxes……………………………………………………………………………..………15

Executive Summary of the Aligned National Action Plan 2015-2025 for Guyana………….…..16

1. INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………..………….…19

1.1 Global Context – Desertification and Land Degradation…………………..………….19

1.2 United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification…………………….………….20

1.3 Guyana’s obligations under the United Nations Convention to Combat

Desertification.................................................................................................................21

1.4 The overarching goal and objectives of the Aligned NAP for Guyana

2015-2025……………………………………………………………………………...22

1.5 UNCCD Strategy 2008-2018…………………………………………………………..23

2 APPROACH FOR DEVELOPING THE ALIGNED NATIONAL ACTION PLAN………29

2.1 Governance of the Aligned NAP………………………………………………..…….29

2.2 Methodology for the preparation of the Aligned NAP…………………….………….29

2.3 Stakeholder engagement and validation……………………………………………….31

3. THE DIAGNOSTIC FRAMEWORK AND NATIONAL CONTEXT………………….….32

3.1 National Development Strategies, Policies, and Plans……………………...…………32

3.2 Other relevant action plans and programmes………………………………………….43

3.3 Acts and Regulations……………………………………………………………..……46

3.4 National Context: Geography, Climate/Weather, Natural Resources, Land Cover

And Productivity…………………………………………………………………….…52

3.5 Status of Land Degradation and Drought…………………………………………..…..57

4. ACHIEVEMENTS AND PLANS FOR ADDRESSING DESERTIFICATION, LAND

DEGRADATION AND DROUGHT…………………………………………..……………71

4.1 Guyana’s achievements in addressing Land Degradation and Drought……………….71

4.2 Protocol for Drought Early Warning System………………………………………..…73

4.3 Stakeholder engagement…………………………………………………………….…80

4.4 Education/training, and awareness………………………………………..…………..80

4.5 Cross-sectoral institutional mechanisms for national coordination and


3

mainstreaming…………………………………………………………………….……82

4.6 Knowledge sharing…………………………………………………………………….82

4.7 Integration and alignment with the National Development Strategy and Plan, and

relevant sectoral plans and policies…………………………………………..………..83

4.8 Regional integration and collaboration…………………………………...……………83

4.9 Sustainable development…………………………………………………………...…..84

4.10 Synergies……………………………………………………………………………….95

4.11 Capacity Building…………………………………………………………………..….97

4.12 Sustainable Land Management……………………………………………………..…97

4.13 Best Practices in Sustainable Land Management…………………………………...…99

4.14 Monitoring systems dedicated to DLDD…………………………………………….100

4.15 Policy framework……………………………………………………………………104

5. INTEGRATED INVESTMENT FRAMEWORK WITH INTEGRATED FINANCIAL

STRATEGY FOR ALIGNED NAP IMPLEMENTATION………………………….……106

5.1 Global Environment Facility…………………………………………………….……106

5.2 Resource Mobilization………………………………………………………………..109

5.3 Partnership Building and Technology Transfer………………………………………115

5.4 Action Plan for the IFS…………………………………………………………….…117

5.5 Barriers to implementing the financial strategy for SLM……………………...……..121

6. UNCCD REPORTING PROCESS FOR THE ALIGNED NAP……………………….….123

6.1 PRAIS………………………………………………………………………...………..123

7. IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK AND SCHEDULE…………………..…………..124

7.1 Coordination, Communication, Synergies…………………………………………….124

7.2 Gap Assessment in the implementation of the NAP and priorities for the

Aligned NAP…………………………………………………………………………..125

7.3 Proposed priority actions to combat DLDD and promote sustainable land

management SLM………………………………………………………….………….137

7.4 Overall timeframe for Aligned NAP implementation………………………...……….137

7.5 Monitoring and Evaluation…………………………………………………………….138

8. CONCLUSIONS……………………………………………………...……………………139

9. REFERENCES………………………………………………………………………..…….141

10. APPENDICES…………………………..………….………………...……………………149

Appendix 1: Posters used for public awareness activities…………………..……………..149

Appendix 2: Photographs of project activities……………………………………….…….151


4

Acknowledgements

The Aligned National Action Plan to Combat Land Degradation was prepared in partnership

with the Cooperative Republic of Guyana represented by the Guyana Lands and Surveys

Commission, the United Nations Development Programme, and funded by the Global

Environment Facility under the “Support the Alignment of Guyana’s National Action Plan to the

UNCCD’s 10-year (2008-2018) Strategic Plan” Project.

Special thanks to the UNDP Guyana Country Office (Dr. Patrick Chesney and Ms. Akua

Carberry), and the then Guyana Lands & Surveys Commission’s (GL&SC) Commissioner and

Project Manager, Mr. Doorga Persaud, Ms. Oleta Williams, Ms. Andrea Mahammad and Mr.

Asib Mohamed. During the implementation of the Project, a National Action Plan Editorial

Working Group consisting appointed representatives from key agencies of the natural resources,

financial, administrative and planning sectors in Guyana was established. The function of the

Group was to facilitate the review and provide feedback on all documents emanating from the

Project within a reasonable time to facilitate efficient revision and approval of documents.

Special thanks is therefore also extended to the members who actively served in this capacity

namely:

- Mr. Colis Primo - Environmental Protection Agency

- Ms. Shenelle Agard - Guyana Geology and Mines Commission

- Ms. Janice Bollers - Guyana Geology and Mines Commission

- Mr. Carmichael Thorne - Ministry of Agriculture

- Mr. Gavin Agard - Department of Natural Resources and the Environment

- Colonel Francis Abraham - Civil Defence Commission

In addition, a National Project Board provided supervision, guidance and facilitated support from

the stakeholder agencies crucial to the multi-disciplinary work under UNCCD in Guyana.

The Aligned National Action Plan to Combat Land Degradation (NAP) is based on the results,

analysis and recommendations of Studies undertaken in 2014 & 2015 under the Project. Both

national and international consultants were contracted to undertake the following studies:

1. National Stocktaking Consultancy- spearheaded by Environmental Management Consultants.

2. Drought EWS Consultancy- spearheaded by Ms Agnes Atyang and Mr. Mario Epstein.

3. Institutional and Policy Expert Consultancy- spearheaded by Dr. Sennye Masike.

4. Integrated Investment Framework and Financing Strategy Consultancy- spearheaded by Dr.

Alexandre Borde.

5. UNCCD reporting Expert Consultancy – spearheaded by Ms. Mena Carto

6. Database Developer Consultancy- spearheaded by Mr. Clarence Garraway.


5

The Government of Guyana is deeply indebted to all stakeholders who have invested their time

and effort, provided information and documents, participated in the training and validation

sessions, and facilitated stakeholder consultations to ensure that this Aligned NAP has become as

integral and comprehensive as possible. The consultants and firms should also be commended

for their dedication and tireless pursuit in completing key sections of the Aligned NAP. Special

thanks to the following institutions is also extensions:

Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs

Ministry of Finance

Ministry of Communities

Ministry of Agriculture

Ministry of Education

Ministry of Public Infrastructure

Ministry of the Presidency

Ministry of Communities

Guyana Geology and Mines Commission

Guyana Forestry Commission

Guyana Livestock Development Board

Guyana Office of Investment

Guyana Rice Development Board

Guyana Water Inc.

Guyana Sugar Corporation

Guyana Marketing Corporation

Ministry of Natural Resources

Bureau of Statistics

Protected Areas Commission

Hydrometeorological Services of the Ministry of Agriculture

National Drainage and Irrigation Authority

Central Housing and Planning Authority

Civil Defence Commission

Office of Climate Change

Land Reclamation Committee

Environmental Protection Agency

National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute

Mangrove Restoration Project

Protected Areas Commission

Inter American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Delegation of European Union


6

World Wildlife Fund

World Bank

Inter-American Development Bank

Conservation International

Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development

United Nations Development Programme, Guyana

School of Earth and Environmental Sciences


7

Foreword

The major challenge for Guyana is to get the balance right between - on the one hand, the urgent

need for equitable development and improved welfare (including food security and poverty

alleviation) and, - on the other hand, the long-term sustainable management of the land and the

vast resources, and of course, efforts to adapt to and mitigate impacts of climate change. This

will depend on sufficient revenues to fund these investments. Necessarily, this will have to be

funded through production, trade and income from the vast potential of our forests and mining

areas as well as marine resources.

Guyana is in global demand!

First, the global demands for resources are ever increasing and will only accelerate over the years

to come. Guyana needs to be prepared. Second, the natural forests of Guyana play a very

important role for the future of the global climate.

It is therefore only reasonable that the global international community - with their vested interest

in sustainably managing and conserving our forests – should contribute and invest substantially

thereto.

If the full potential shall be harnessed to the benefit of all and without destroying opportunities

for the generations to come, a coordinated and balanced approach is needed.

Since Guyana became a signatory to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification,

the Government of Guyana has made strong progress towards living up to its commitments to the

Convention. This Aligned National Action Plan is the manifestation of these continued efforts,

not only as a commitment to the UNCCD, but moreover as a commitment to the citizens of

Guyana to ensure that its resources will be managed sustainably for the benefit of generations to

come.

Common for all natural resources sectors – a very significant improvement in infrastructure is

necessary to be able to access and harness all these benefits.

The substantial infrastructure development should, , be designed wisely to avoid the possible

negative consequences such as fragmentation and opening up of hitherto protected and remote

areas of unique forests and biodiversity.

The Aligned NAP aims to ensure that the agricultural, pasture, mining, forest, coastal and other

land uses and resources are managed as sustainable, productive systems that maintain ecosystem

productivity and ecological functions while contributing directly to the environmental protection,

economic growth and social livelihood of the people of the country.


8

This Aligned NAP outlines the approach and roadmap towards continuing to enhance the way of

managing land and resources in Guyana. The Aligned NAP consists of and is governed by a set

of overarching principles: Achievement of Sustainable Development; Land management

governance and policy; Education, training and awareness; Knowledge information and research;

Evaluation and monitoring and; Partnership and financing.

The Aligned NAP focuses on the primary sectors on which Guyana has depended and will

depend upon in the future. The potential of several of these sectors is very big and hitherto

largely untapped and will likely undergo rapid development. This Aligned NAP emphasizes

equitable access to resources.

This Aligned National Action Plan 2015-2025 for Guyana for the United Nations Convention to

Combat Desertification builds on the previous National Action Plan from 2006, and is updated to

be aligned with the UNCCD Strategic Plan 2008-2018. This Aligned NAP is aligned with

relevant country strategic development and policy plans.


9

Foreword by the Resident Representative, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP),

Guyana Country Office

As described in the Outcome Document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development

(‘Rio+20’), ‘….poverty eradication, changing unsustainable and promoting sustainable patterns of

consumption and production and protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and

social development are the overarching objectives of and essential requirements for sustainable

development. In the UNDP Strategic Plan 2014-2017, the Area of Work 1: Sustainable Development

Pathways, recognises the importance of sustainable land management and restoration of degraded land as

a scalable initiative on sustainable productive capacity.

In May 2014, UNDP commenced the project titled “Support the Alignment of Guyana’s National Action

Plan to the UNCCD’s 10-year (2008-2018) Strategic Plan” in collaboration with the Guyana Lands and

Surveys Commission (Implementing Partner) and the Global Environment Facility (Trust Fund

resources). Through the project, UNDP delivered support to the preparation of the Aligned National

Action Plan to Combat Land Degradation (Aligned NAP), which was completed in December 2015.

The Aligned NAP integrates Guyana’s obligations under the UNCCD into its national development and

sectoral planning frameworks through a renewed and participative process, and in a manner that is in line

with the global guidance contained in the UNCCD’s Strategic Plan for 2008-2018. The result has

positioned Guyana to comply with its international obligations, and also to provide a framework for

national response to the economic and social effects of land degradation on land use, livelihood and

human development.

The Aligned NAP contributes to the UNDP Country Programme Outcome: Improved functional capacity

of key natural resources and disaster risk management institutions, and is aligned to the UN’s Sustainable

Development Goals 15 – Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems,

sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt

biodiversity loss – and 16 – Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development,

provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.

UNDP is therefore pleased to have been part of the development of Guyana’s Aligned NAP to Combat

Land Degradation and offers congratulations to the Government of Guyana, in general, and the GL&SC,

in particular, for the successful completion of the project.

UNDP looks forward to Guyana implementing the specific objectives under the UNCCD Plan for 2008-

2018 and adoption of the Performance Review and Assessment of the Implementation Strategy (PRAIS)

Reporting Cycle for submission to the UNCCD.

Khadija Musa

UNDP Resident Representative

22 February 2015


10

Acronyms

ACCC Adaptation to Climate Change in the Caribbean

ACP Affected Country Parties

ADP Agricultural Diversification Programme

CAP Conservancy Adaptation Project

CARICOM Caribbean Community and Common Market

CBD Convention on Biological Diversity

CBO Community-Based Organization

CCC Crisis Coordination Committee

CDC Civil Defence Commission

CDEMA Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (ex CDERA)

CDP Community Development Project

CI Conservation International

CIDA Canadian International Development Agency

CIMH Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology

CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and

Flora

CRG Cooperative Republic of Guyana

CMO Caribbean Meteorological Organization

CNIRD Caribbean Network for Integrated Rural Development

COP Conference of Parties

CPACC Caribbean Planning for Adaptation to Climate Change

CRG Cooperative Republic of Guyana

CRSAP Climate Resilience Strategy and Action Plan

DCP Developed Country Parties

DEWS Drought Early Warning System

DLDD Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought

DLUPP Development of Land Use Planning Project

DMP Drought Mitigation Plan

DNRE Department of Natural Resources and the Environment

DRR Disaster Risk Management

EA Enabling Activity

EC European Commission

ECLAC Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean

EDF European Development Fund

EDWC East Demurer Water Conservancy

EIA Environmental Impact Assessment

EITI Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative

ENSO El Niño Southern Oscillation

EPA Environmental Protection Agency


11

ESIA Environmental and Social Impact Assessment

EU European Union

EU-FLEGT Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative and the European Union Forest Law

Enforcement, Governance and Trade

EWC III Third International Conference on Early Warning

EWS Early Warning System

FAO Food and Agriculture Organization

FDI Foreign Direct Investment

FEWS NET Food Early Warning System Network

FTCI Forestry Training Centre Incorporated

GCI Guyana Citizens Initiative

GCM Global Circulation Models

GDF Guyana Defence Force

GDP Gross Domestic Product

GEF Global Environment Fund

GFC Guyana Forestry Commission

GFS Global Forecast System

GGAC Guyana Geospatial Advisory Council

GGMC Guyana Geology & Mines Commission

GINA Government Information Agency

GINRIS Guyana Integrated Natural Resources Information System

GIS Geographical Information System

GLADIS Global Land Degradation Information System

GLDA Guyana Livestock Development Authority

GL&SC Guyana Lands & Surveys Commission

GM Global Mechanism

GMTCS Guyana Marine Turtle Conservation Society

GoG Government of Guyana

GPF Guyana Police Force

GRDB Guyana Rice Development Board

GRIF Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund

GS&RD Guyana Sea and River Defence Department

GS&WC Georgetown Sewerage and Water Commission

GTA Guyana Tourism Authority

GUYSUCO Guyana Sugar Corporation

GWYA Guyana Water Authority

GWI Guyana Water Inc.

HACCP Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point

Hydromel Hydrometeorological Department

IADB Inter-American Development Bank


12

ICZM Integrated Coastal Zone Management

IFAD International Fund for Agricultural Development

IFRC International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

IFS Integrated Finance Strategy

IIC Iwokrama International Centre

IICA Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture

IIF Integrated Investment Framework

Indict Intended Nationally Determined Contribution

INPE National Institute for Space Research (Brazil)

IPNM Integrated Plant Nutrient Management

IRI International Research Institute for Climate and Society, University of Columbia

ISDR International Strategy for Disaster Reduction

ISM Integrated Soil Management

ITU International Telecommunication Union

IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature

JICA Japan International Cooperation Agency

JRC Joint Research Centre of the European Commission

Kiwi

LACS Local Aid Coordination Secretariat

LADA Land Degradation Assessment in Dry lands

LCDS Low Carbon Development Strategy

LDN Land Degradation Neutrality

LRC Land Reclamation Committee

MA Millennium Assessment

MACC Mainstreaming Adaptation for Climate Change

MDGs Millennium Development Goals

M&E Monitoring and Evaluation

MEA Multilateral Environmental Agreements

MIA Mercury Initial Assessment

MMA-ADA Mahaica, Mahaicony, Abary Agricultural Development Authority

MNRE Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment

MoU Memorandum of Understanding

MRVS Monitoring, Reporting and Verification System

MSSC Multi-Stakeholder Steering Committee

NAP National Action Plan/ Programme to Combat Land Degradation

NAREI National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute

NBAP National Biodiversity Action Plan

NBSAP National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plan

NCSA National Capacity Self-Assessment

NDIA National Drainage and Irrigation Authority


13

NDC National Democratic Council

NDS National Development Strategy

NEAP National Environmental Action Plan

NEPAD New Partnership for Africa’s Development

NFP National Focal Point

NFP National Forest Plan

NGO Non-Governmental Organization

NIDRMP National Integrated Disaster Risk Management Plan

NLUP National Land Use Plan

NMHS National Meteorological and Hydrological Service

NMMAP National Mangrove Management Action Plan

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NRDDB North Rupununi District Development Board

NPAS National Protected Areas System

NRMP Natural Resources Management Project

NSC National Steering Committee

NTFPs Non-Timber Forest Products

NWIS National Water Information System

NWP Numerical Weather Prediction

OAS Organization of American States

OCC Office of Climate Change

ODA Overseas Development Assistance

PAC Protected Areas Commission

PDA Public Development Aid

PMP Pest Management Practices

PPEW Platform for Promotion of Early Warning - United Nations

PRAIS Performance Review on Assessment of Implementation Strategy

PRSP Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper

REDD+ Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation

RGDP REDD+ Governance Development Plan

SD Sustainable Development

SDGs Sustainable Development Goals

SDMIS Sea Defence Management Information System

SEEC Strategic Emergency Engineering Committee

SFM Sustainable Forest Management

SIDS Small-Island Developing States

SLM Sustainable Land Management

SME Small and Micro Enterprise

SO Strategic Objective

SRDD Sea and River Defence Department


14

TFIR Task Force for Infrastructure Recovery

ToR Terms of Reference

TSG Technical Support Group

UN United Nations

UN/ISDR United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction

UNCBD United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity

UNCCD United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification

UNDP United Nations Development Programme

UNEP United Nations Environment Programme

UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

UNICEF United Nations Children's Fund

UNISDR United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction

UNITAR United Nations Institute for Training and Research

VPA Voluntary Partnership Agreement

WOCAT World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies

WSSD World Summit on Sustainable Development

WWF World Wildlife Fund

WUA Water Users’ Association

WMO World Meteorological Organization


15

List of Figures

Figure 1: Natural geographic regions of Guyana………………………………………………..54

Figure 2: Areas classified as being affected by DLDD………………………………………....58

Figure 3 Areas Affected by DLDD……………………………………...………………… 69

Figure 4: Components of a drought protocol…………………………………………………....73

Figure 5: A Simple Model for the DEWS Protocol for Guyana………………………………...74

Figure 6: Actions to be taken befor the onset of a drought……………………………………...76

Figure 7: Innovative sources of funding…………………………………………………….…115

Figure 8: Home Page of PRAIS Database………………..…………………………………………123

List of Tables

Table 1: Droughts in Guyana and Relation to El Niño…………………………………….……55

Table 2: Estimates of land productivity within each land cover type………………………56

Table 3: Summary of the national land use plan……………………………………………...62

Table 4: Proportion of population (by region) using an improved drinking water source

for the period 2012-2014…………………………………………………………..…..70

Table 5: Cross-cutting projects related to the Rio Conventions……………………………...…96

Table 6: Best practices/regulations available………………………………………………….100

Table 7: GEF Land Degradation Focal Area Objectives, Program Priorities

and Expected Outcomes………………………………………..……………………..108

Table 8: Priority Areas for Aligned NAP Implementation………………………………...…..118

Table 9: Barriers to implementing the financial strategy for SLM…………………………….121

Table 10: Assessment of Operational Objectives and Expected Outcomes against

Guyana’s NAP……………...……………………………………………………..…126

Table 11: Implementation phases for the Aligned NAP……………………………………….138

List of Boxes

Box 1: Key priority actions to combat DLDD and promote SLM…………………………..137


16

Executive Summary of the Aligned National Action Programme 2015-2025 for Guyana

The Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC) is Guyana’s National Focal Point

Agency to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

Guyana has been actively pursuing efforts aimed at combating the negative economic, social and

environmental impacts of land degradation and desertification on the well-being of its people. To

this end, overwhelming support towards the implementation of a Project titled ‘Support the

Alignment of Guyana’s National Action Plan to the UNCCD 10 Year (2008-2018) Strategic

Plan’ was achieved and conducted through a collaborative, cross cutting and inclusionary

process. This approach involved inputs from key stakeholders in the natural resources,

environmental, agricultural sectors, civil society and other governmental agencies.

The Aligned National Action Plan provides the fundamental principles for guidance and

fulfillment of the country’s obligation to align its National Action Plan (NAP) to the UNCCD

10- Year Strategy(2008-2018). The Aligned NAP provides consideration for the need for urgent

efforts to integrate and strengthen existing National Policies, Strategies, Action Plans and the

planning framework for conservation, promotion of sustainable land management and combating

the exacerbated effects of degradation. Thus, the Aligned National Action Plan builds on the

Guyana’s previous NAP of 2006. It seeks to mainstream and presents the country’s past and

current efforts made towards aligning the National Action Plan and thereafter, implementation

and reporting to the UNCCD.

The UNCCD Strategy, aims to guide the actions of all UNCCD stakeholders and partners for the

period 2008–2018, through the following strategic and operational objectives:-

Stra

tegi

c O

bje

ctiv

es

•1: To improve the living conditions of affected populations

•2: To improve the condition of affected ecosystems

•3: To generate global benefits through effective implementation of the UNCCD

•4: To mobilize resources to support implementation of the Convention through building effective partnerships between national and international actors

Op

erat

ion

al O

bje

ctiv

es

•1: Advocacy, awareness raising and education

•2: Policy framework: To support the creation of enabling environments for promoting solutions to combat desertification/land degradation and mitigate the effects of drought

•3: Science, technology and knowledge

•4: Capacity-building

•5: Financing and technology transfer


17

As such, both the strategic and operational objectives form the priority baseline for the

development of Guyana’s undertaking to develop its Aligned NAP. Ultimately, in line with the

country’s stand on acceding to the ratification of the UNCCD in September 1997, Guyana joined

the international community in the recognition that desertification is a major economic, social

and environmental problem of concern.

The UNCCD Indicators aim at providing the basis for the Monitoring and Evaluation approach

to assess implementation. These Indicators which were agreed to by Member Countries and

Guyana at the twelfth Conference of the Parties (COP12) are said to guide and achieve the

synergy required by the three Rio Conventions – Desertification, Climate Change and

Biodiversity. The Indicators are also utilized to synergize measures to make land resilient to

climate change and to halt the biodiversity loss that follows the destruction of ecosystems

through land degradation and desertification.To capture the essence of the aligned NAP and its

subsequent implementation, the Performance Review on Assessment of Implementation Strategy

(PRAIS) has been developed by the UNCCD for monitoring and reporting purposes. Guyana’s

efforts included the development of an online database system to synchronize and capture data

and provide the results to the UNCCD in the PRAIS structured format. This database can be

accessed at gyprais.gov.gy.

Based on the assessment done in 2008, although land degradation in Guyana has not reached

critical point, there are indications that it is occurring at an increasing rate which corresponds to

an increase in the exploitation of natural resource, increased national agricultural drive and

increased frequency and intensity of climatic conditions. Guyana’s vulnerability from

degradation will continue to increase exponentially due to sea level rise, saline intrusion and

coastal erosion as a result of its low coastline. The coast comprises 90% of the country’s

population concentration, major economic hub, most fertile land and extensive social services

NLUP, 2013). Therefore, Guyana’s ability to implement effective measures to combat

desertification will be significantly bolstered with the successive implementation of the Aligned

NAP. Effective implementation of the NAP will be supported by the introduction of a number of

projects which are earmarked. However, to bridge the gaps identified and enable the country to

achieve the UNCCD’s objective, hinges on its ability to access the resources and technical and

scientific requirements.

In order to combat land degradation and desertification, the Aligned NAP identifies

comprehensive and robust activities to be implemented over time. The Aligned NAP proposes

the following activities to address key land degradation issues facing Guyana:


18

Produce sound scientific evidence and to determine the relative roles of drivers of

Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought (DLDD)

Conduct a national scientific study on land degradation

Improvement of the institutional capacity and the collaboration between governmental

agencies

Conduct training in:

o Remote sensing

o Geographic Information System (GIS)

o Multi Criteria Decision Analysis

o Information management systems/information technology

Mainstream Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought (DLDD) into relevant

national policies, strategies and plans

Efficiency of knowledge sharing systems, information flow, consistency of the body of

national policies

Finalization of the National Land Policy or Sustainable Land Management (SLM) Policy

Strengthening the links between the UNCCD and the poverty and livelihoods elements of

the sustainable development agenda, including Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Trans-program integration

Mainstreaming of Sustainable Land Management (SLM) within educational

establishments

Enhancement of the knowledge and capacity of miners/land users to perform ecologically

appropriate land restoration

Enhance the capacity to cascade regional (international) forecasts of Drought Early

Warning Systems (DEWS) to the national context and the analytical capacity of staff

working on DEWS

Conduct awareness of, and training in, specialized areas such as the process of dealing

with drought in order to develop appropriate actions in case of unforeseen occurrence

Enhance the capacity to establish and manage/maintain systematic central databases with

quality checks


19

1. INTRODUCTION

The Aligned National Action Plan (NAP) to Combat Land Degradation was prepared in

fulfillment of Guyana’s obligation to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification

and its 2008-2018 Strategy.

This introductory chapter provides an overview of the background and outlines the main goal

and objectives for the Aligned NAP. Its describes the Aligned NAP both within the global

context of Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought (DLDD), and the United Nations

Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). It also describes the background to the

alignment process, which all signatory countries to the UNCCD have been requested and

encouraged to undertake. In addition, it provides an overview of Guyana’s commitment to the

UNCCD.

1.1 Global Context – Desertification and Land Degradation

The UNCCD statistics (2015) indicate the following:

Drylands constitute approximately 41 per cent of the Earth's surface and support more

than 2 billion people. Between 10 and 20 per cent of drylands are degraded or

unproductive. Land degradation affects one third of the planet's land surface and

threatens the health and livelihoods of more than one billion people in over one hundred

countries.

Desertification is one of the world's most alarming processes of environmental

degradation. Each year, desertification and drought cause an estimated $42 billion in lost

agricultural production. The risks of desertification are substantial and clear. It

contributes to food insecurity, famine and poverty, and can give rise to social, economic

and political tensions that can cause conflicts, further poverty and land degradation.

Desertification and land degradation are critical concerns to most countries of the world.

Desertification by definition is the degradation of land in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-

humid areas and is caused primarily by human activities and climatic variations.

Desertification does not refer to the expansion of existing deserts. It occurs because

dryland ecosystems, which cover over one third of the world‘s land area, are extremely

vulnerable to over-exploitation and inappropriate land use. Poverty, political instability,

deforestation, overgrazing and bad irrigation practices can all undermine the productivity

of land.

Land degradation occurs on all continents except Antarctica and affects the livelihoods of

millions of people, including a large proportion of the poor in drylands. Some 10-20% of

drylands are already degraded.

Over 250 million people are directly affected by desertification, and about one billion

people in over one hundred countries are at risk. These people include many of the

world‘s poorest, most marginalized and politically weak citizens. Persistent, substantial

reduction in the provision of ecosystem services as a result of water scarcity, intensive


20

use of services, and climate change is a much greater threat in drylands than in non-

drylands systems.

Land degradation is a result of a long-term failure to balance demand for and supply of

ecosystem services in drylands. The magnitude and impacts of land degradation vary

greatly from place to place and change over time. Land degradation has strong adverse

impacts on non-drylands as well; affected areas may sometimes be located thousands of

kilometres away from the desertified areas. Scenarios for future development show that

the desertified area is likely to increase and the relief of pressures on drylands is strongly

correlated with poverty reduction. Desertification can be avoided by reducing the stress

on dryland ecosystems.

The global scenarios also show that coping with desertification and its related economic

conditions will likely fare better when proactive management approaches are used. On

the whole, combating desertification yields multiple local and global benefits and helps

mitigate biodiversity loss and human-induced global climate change.

The UNCCD Secretariat aims to resolve the above issues by working with member countries to

addressing them.

1.2 United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification

In recognition of the major economic, social and environmental problem posed by desertification

to many countries in all regions of the world, the United Nations Conference on Desertification

adopted a Plan of Action to Combat Desertification in 1977.

Despite this Plan of Action and other efforts, the United Nations Environment Programme

(UNEP) concluded in 1991 that the problem of land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-

humid areas had intensified, although there were "local examples of success".

As a result, the question to combat and reduce desertification was still a major concern for the

United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, which was held in Rio de Janeiro

in 1992. The Conference supported a new, integrated approach to the problem, emphasizing

action to promote sustainable development at the community level through widespread capacity

building and development. It also called on the United Nations General Assembly to establish an

Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to prepare, by June 1994, a Convention to Combat

Desertification. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was

adopted in Paris on June 17, 1994 and entered into force on December 26, 1996.

Since the adoption of the Convention, some 195 countries have undergone ratification with the

importance of capacity building for its effective and efficient implementation being recognized.

This recognition has grown stronger and has been reiterated with every passing Conference of

the Parties (COP). (http://www.unccd.int/en/programmes/Capacity-

building/CBW/Features/Pages/Capacity-Building-in-the-Action-Programmes.aspx)

http://www.unccd.int/en/programmes/Capacity-building/CBW/Features/Pages/Capacity-Building-in-the-Action-Programmes.aspx

http://www.unccd.int/en/programmes/Capacity-building/CBW/Features/Pages/Capacity-Building-in-the-Action-Programmes.aspx


21

The UNCCD is the only internationally recognized legally binding instrument that addresses the

problem of land degradation in dry land rural areas. The UNCCD places human beings at the

centre of its concern to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought. It recognizes

that Governments play a critical role in combating desertification and mitigating the effects of

drought and that progress depends on local implementation of programmes in affected areas.

Since 1995, June 17 has been observed as World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

and Guyana has been no different in planning commemorative activities.

1.3 Guyana’s obligations under the United Nations Convention to Combat

Desertification

Guyana ratified the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) on June 26,

1997 and effectively joined the international community in the recognition that desertification is

a major economic, social and environmental problem of concern on September 24, 1997.

The fundamental obligations to the Convention are: (1) The preparation of an Aligned National

Action Plan to serve as the guiding framework for implementing actions to combat

desertification/land degradation and promote sustainable land management and (2) To undertake

UNCCD reporting.

Guyana’s original NAP was prepared in 2006, and takes into consideration the need for

integration into and strengthening of the existing national policy and planning framework for

sustainable development, as well as the role of non-governmental organisations, the private

sector, local communities and civil society at large in its implementation.

Under the UNCCD, the Government of Guyana is committed to the following:

Give due priority to combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought, and

allocating adequate resources in accordance with circumstances and capabilities;

Establishing strategies and priorities, within the framework of sustainable development

plans and/or policies, to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought;

Addressing the underlying causes of desertification and paying special attention to the

socio-economic factors contributing to desertification processes;

Promoting awareness and facilitating the participation of local populations, particularly

women and youth, with the support of nongovernmental organizations, in efforts to

combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought;

Providing an enabling environment by strengthening, as appropriate, relevant existing

legislation and where they do not exist, enacting new laws and establishing long-term

policies and action programmes.

Since signing on to UNCCD, Guyana has prepared six (6) national UNCCD reports - in 2000,

2002, 2006, 2009, 2010, and 2012 respectively. These reports contain greater detail on the

situation analysis and the current situation regarding land degradation (http://www.unccd-

http://www.unccd-prais.com/Data/Reports


22

prais.com/Data/Reports, http://prais2.unccd-prais.com/node/508).This Aligned NAP does not

repeat the details of these reports but rather, builds upon them.

The National Assessment of Land Degradation Report (2008) concluded that the state of land

degradation in Guyana is minimal compared to other countries, with pockets of degraded areas

around the country and closely associated with certain land use types.

The case of Guyana highlights four major issues related to land degradation that must be

addressed through the implementation of the Aligned NAP: incidents of floods; droughts; salt

water intrusion in particular along Guyana’s developed but vulnerable coast; improper natural

resource utilization in the mining, forestry and agriculture sectors and; settlement expansion and

growth in rural and urban areas.

The NAP for Guyana from 2006 proposed the following actions to address these issues:

rationalizing the planning and management of land resources

rationalizing legislative overlaps

promoting effective coordination and information exchange

establishing institutional synergies

securing financial resources and establishing financial mechanisms

promoting public education and awareness

undertaking training and capacity building

addressing issues of food security, management of agriculture and sustainable

development

sustainably managing drainage basins and watersheds

developing early warning systems and emergency plans to mitigate drought

utilizing traditional knowledge and

Promoting regional aspects of preventing land degradation.

1.4 The overarching goal and objectives of the Aligned NAP for Guyana 2015-

2025

1.4.1 Goal of the Aligned NAP

The Aligned National Action Programme will facilitate the strengthening and mainstreaming of

land degradation issues into national policy and planning, as well as be useful in accessing

funds/budgets for priority actions and projects identified within the Aligned NAP.

http://prais2.unccd-prais.com/node/508


23

1.4.2 Objectives of the Aligned NAP

To align the 2006 NAP with the UNCCD’s 2008-2018 Strategy.

To develop a strategic medium and long term national approach and plan for reduction

and mitigating land degradation impacts and promote sustainable land management

1.5 UNCCD Strategy 2008-2018

The UNCCD 10-Year Strategy (2008-2018) was adopted in 2007 at the Conference of Parties

Eight (COP 8) with the overall aim of improving the implementation of the Convention. The

vision of the Strategy is “to forge a global partnership to reverse and prevent

desertification/land degradation and to mitigate the effects of drought in affected areas in order

to support poverty reduction and environmental sustainability.”

The Strategy provides a unique opportunity to address some of the Convention’s key challenges,

to capitalize on its strengths and to create a new, revitalized common ground for all UNCCD

stakeholders.

Countries, and in particular Developed Country Parties (DCP) and Affected Country Parties

(ACP) who have adopted the Strategy, have committed to operational zing the Strategy in

accordance with their national priorities: to align their National Action Programmes with the

Strategy and; to report on progress made in keeping with UNCCD guidelines.

The objectives of the Strategy are two-fold comprising Strategic Objectives and Operational

Objectives. The “strategic objectives” are to be achieved over the 10 year period, and the

“operational objectives” are to guide the actions of short and medium-term effects of land

degradation. Meeting these objectives will contribute to achieving the vision for the future of

forging a global partnership to reverse and prevent desertification/land degradation and to

mitigate the effects of drought in affected areas in order to support poverty reduction and

environmental sustainability.

1.5.1 Strategic Objectives and the Operational Objectives

The UNCCD 2008-2018 Strategy was designed to achieve several specific objectives, both in the

long term and in the short/medium term. There are four (4) Strategic Objectives that will have

long-term effects (in ten years or more) which will be evaluated through specific indicators,

while 5 Operational Objectives have been defined with short and medium term effects (in three

to five years or more).

Strategic Objectives

The Strategic objectives are:

Strategic Objective 1: To improve the living conditions of affected populations.


24

Strategic Objective 2: To improve the condition of affected ecosystems.

Strategic Objective 3: To generate global benefits through effective implementation of

the UNCCD.

Strategic Objective 4: To mobilize resources to support implementation of the

Convention through building effective partnerships between national and international

actors.

Operational Objectives

The Operational objectives are:

Operational Objective 1: Advocacy, awareness raising and education.

Operational Objective 2: Policy framework.

Operational Objective 3: Science, technology and knowledge.

Operational Objective 4: Capacity-building.

Operational Objective 5: Financing and technology transfer.

The Indicators used to monitor the implementation of the UNCCD Strategic Objectives were

also agreed to by Member Countries, including Guyana. The Indicators are also utilized to

synergize measures to make the land resilient to climate change and to halt the biodiversity loss

that follows the destruction of ecosystems.

The UNCCD Indicators provide the basis for the Monitoring and Evaluation approach to

assess implementation and are intended to guide and achieve the synergy required by the

three Rio Conventions – Desertification, Climate Change and Biodiversity.

The Parties’ meeting held in Ankara, 2015 agreed on the scientific definition of what it

means to become Land Degradation Neutral and set targets that are on par with the

Climate Change and Biodiversity Conventions.

In addition, COP12 agreed on the set of land-based indicators that will be used to

measure progress, which they are also recommending for adoption as the primary

measures of Land Degradation Neutrality globally.

Guyana through the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission has undertaken a Project

(Implemented by the United Nations Development Programme & funded by the Global

Environment Facility) to align the National Action Plan (NAP) to Combat Land Degradation to

the UNCCD 10 Year Strategy. The outcomes of the Project were to undertake NAP Alignment

and UNCCD Reporting using the Indicators agreed to by COP12.


25

1.5.2 Relationship to other Rio Conventions and Land Degradation Neutrality

In 1992, in Rio de Janiero, the Earth Summit was held. Resulting from this gathering of one

hundred and eight (108) Heads of States was the launching of three conventions namely:

UN Convention to Combat Desertification

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD)

UN Convention to Combat Desertification

Guyana has made significant progress towards its commitment to the UNCCD since its

ratification on June 26, 1997 and which became effective on September 24, 1997.

The National Focal Point (NFP) Agency is the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission.

The role of the NFP is to prepare national reports on the implementation of the UNCCD,

and to promote Sustainable Land Management (SLM), reduce and combat land

degradation, and support landscape restoration.

Guyana has taken the initiative to prepare all required UNCCD National Reports, and

implement Projects which support local actions to reduce land degradation and promote

SLM e.g. Capacity Development and Mainstreaming for Sustainable Land Management

and the Alignment of the National Action Plan Project. Both these Projects were

implemented by the GL&SC and UNDP with funding from the GEF. Other

complementary projects exist in Guyana such as the Land Reclamation Project.

The Alignment of the National Action Plan Project has been ongoing during 2014-2015

and seeks to prepare an Aligned National Action Plan (NAP) to Combat Land

Degradation. The NAP provides a framework to enable Guyana to meet its obligations to

fulfill the work of the UNCCD Strategy (2008-2018). The framework provides key

priority actions to address the need for policy/institution strengthening, training/education

and awareness, financing and technology, synergies with the other Rio Conventions, and

reporting needs based on the indicators provided by the UNCCD.

The Draft Aligned NAP is to be implemented from 2015-2025 (10 years) to support and

promote SLM and the implementation of UNCCD Strategy at the local level.

UNCCD is utilising its Strategic Plan and along with efforts to harmonise with UNFCCC

and UNCBD, in order to integrate global to local efforts for a synergized response to deal

holistically with the issue of land degradation and droughts. Land degradation and

droughts are related to climate change and the work of UNFCCC, and to the impact on

biodiversity and the work of the UNCBD.

UNCCD’s linkage with Climate Change, the UNFCCC and the UNCBD

After ‘silo’ actions by the Conventions, the reporting process of UNCCD seeks to collectively

address the following of Guyana and other UNCCD Member countries. These objectives have


26

clearly identified expected impacts which are directly or indirectly linked to climate change as

highlighted below:-

Strategic objective 1: To improve the living conditions of affected populations

o Expected impact 1.1:People living in areas affected by desertification/land

degradation and drought to have an improved and more diversified livelihood

base and to benefit from income generated from sustainable land management.

o Expected impact 1.2.:Affected populations’ socio-economic and environmental

vulnerability to climate change, climate variability and drought is reduced.

Strategic objective 2: To improve the condition of affected ecosystems

o Expected impact 2.1.: Land productivity and other ecosystem goods and services

in affected areas are enhanced in a sustainable manner contributing to improved

livelihoods.

o Expected impact 2.2.: The vulnerability of affected ecosystems to climate change,

climate variability and drought is reduced.

Strategic objective 3: To generate global benefits through effective implementation of the

UNCCD

o Expected impact3.1.:Sustainable land management and combating

desertification/land degradation contribute to the conservation and sustainable use

of biodiversity and the mitigation of climate change.

Strategic objective 4: To mobilize resources to support implementation of the Convention

through building effective partnerships between national and international actors

o Expected impact 4.1.:Increased financial, technical and technological resources

are made available to affected developing country Parties, and where appropriate,

Central and Eastern European countries to implement the Convention.

o Expected impact 4.2.:Enabling policy environments are improved for UNCCD

implementation at all levels.

Guyana as a signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

(UNFCCC)

UNFCCC was established in 1992 and Guyana ratified it in 1994

Kyoto Protocol 1997; 2005

Guyana is a net sink for carbon

The time frame associated with Guyana’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution

(iNDC) is for the period up to 2025. Guyana prepared to submit its draft iNDC to the

UNFCCC in accordance with the Warsaw COP Decision 1/CP.19 and Lima 1/CP.20.

Adaptation to reduce vulnerability and enhance resilience of ecosystems and human

populations to the combined effects of climate change and land degradation requires

support to Affected Country Parties (ACP)


27

Guyana as signatory to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD)

Guyana signed the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in June 1992 and

subsequently ratified the Convention in August 1994.

Guyana’s biodiversity provides an important basis for climate regulation, freshwater,

poverty reduction, economic growth and development in areas such as, agriculture,

forestry and fisheries, payment for forest climate services, and community based

economies, particularly in hinterland communities.

Loss of biodiversity and any disruption in the provision of ecosystem services would

impact negatively on the economy and more particularly on the quality of life in the

hinterland and indigenous communities.

Climate change, deforestation and land degradation have recently received greater

recognition as current and future drivers of environmental change and threats to Guyana’s

biodiversity. These pressures have been increasing over the past decade. In addition

emerging threats that will affect biodiversity in the future include (i) overfishing (ii)

depletion of the mangrove fringe (iii) expansion of extractive industries.

The major ecosystems that can be distinguished in Guyana are: (i) forest (ii) savannah

(iii) freshwater (iv) wetland (v) coastal and (vi) marine.

Key Facts:- The ecosystems support diverse species to the extent that as of 2010

Guyana’s species status was estimated as 8,000 plant species; 467 fish; 130 amphibian;

179 reptile; 814 bird; and 225 mammal; 1,673 arthropod; over 1,200 fungi; 33 bacteria;

13 nematode; 44 algae; 17 mollusk; and an estimated 30 virus.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Guyana has a total of 1182

native tree species of which 1 species Vouacapoua Americana is listed by the

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List as Critically

Endangered. Three species; Trichiliasurumuensis, Anibarosaedora, Virolasurinmensis are

listed as Endangered and a total of 18 species are listed as Vulnerable.

Threat from Land Degradation

No Critically Endangered mammals are known to occur in Guyana. The only Endangered

mammal listed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for

Guyana is the Giant Otter (Pteronurabrasiliensis). The only Endangered bird species

listed in Guyana are: Sun parakeet (Aratingasolstitialis); Hoary-throated spine tail

(Synallaxiskollari); and the Red siskin (Cardueliscucullata).

Guyana has no listed Critically Endangered or Endangered freshwater vertebrates. Of the

species known to occur in Guyana, 4.5% of mammals, 0.4% of birds, 3% of amphibians,

3.3% of reptiles and 0.3% of freshwater fish are threatened.


28

Land degradation in Guyana is not in the critical advanced stage as is evident in many

countries and beckons a preventative and proactive consideration as opposed to a

treatment approach.

A Land Degradation Neutrality Agreement

The Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) Agreement and definition were adopted at the UNCCD

Conference of Parties 12 (COP12). The LDN Agreement targets desertification and the

restoration of degraded land and soil. Member countries are expected to set voluntary targets to

achieve a land-degradation neutral world that ensures that the amount of healthy and productive

land remains stable as of 2030.

The LDN Agreement follows the adoption of the Global Goals for Sustainable

Development in New York in November 2015. Sustainable Development (SD) Goal

15.3: “By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land

affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-

neutral world”.

The key principle of LDN is that the people at a grassroots level, whose everyday

decisions and actions affect the condition of land and water resources, have to be

involved in designing and implementing measures to halt and reverse land degradation.

An LDN approach upholds two complementary pathways of action:

o Sustainable land management and ecosystem restoration which in tandem will

help achieve LDN

o The restoration of natural and semi-natural areas is often key to maintaining the

necessary level of ecosystem services for working landscapes as well as urban

areas

Given the adoption of the Land Degradation Neutrality, countries such as Guyana could

agree to formulate voluntary targets to achieve LDN, according to their specific National

Circumstances and Development Priorities.

The concept of avoiding Land Degradation is paramount in promoting a Green Economy,

and this has been adopted and maintained by the Cooperative Republic of Guyana

through the implementation of the Low Carbon Development Strategy, Reduced

Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+), United Nations Framework on

Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).


29

2 APPROACH FOR DEVELOPING THE ALIGNED NATIONAL ACTION

PROGRAMME

This chapter provides an overview of the approach and methodology applied in developing the

Aligned NAP, including governance of the alignment process.

2.1 Governance of the Aligned NAP

A National Project Board was established in 2014 with oversight responsibility for the

implementation of the NAP Alignment Project and this Board met every three months. The

Board comprised representative from the following institutions:

1. Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (Implementing Agency)

2. Guyana Forestry Commission

3. Ministry of Local Government & Regional Development

4. Department (formerly Ministry) of Natural Resources & Environment, Ministry of the

Presidency

5. Ministry of Finance

6. Ministry of Amerindian Affairs

7. Guyana Office for Investment

8. Central Housing and Planning Authority

9. Office of Climate Change

10. Ministry of Agriculture

11. Guyana Geology and Mines Commission

12. Environmental Protection Agency

13. Civil Defence Commission

14. Protected Areas Commission

15. Private Sector Commission

16. United Nations Development Programme

This Board expired when the Aligned NAP has been finalized and approved, while it is

anticipated that a new national board or implementation committee would be established and

tasked with oversight responsibility for the implementation of the Aligned NAP.

2.2 Methodology for the preparation of the Aligned NAP

The development of the Aligned NAP was conducted through a series of six consultancies

(during 2015); the objectives of each are described below.

2.2.1 National Rapid Stocktaking Study

The objectives of this consultancy were:


30

To conduct an analysis of Policy and Planning Tools, and Human and Scientific

Capacity, for NAP Alignment and implementation, including the existing gaps and

obstacles.

To strengthen the human and scientific capacity of Agencies, and support implementation

of the aligned NAP using indicators (new and existing) through formal training.

2.2.2 Drought Early Warning System


To inform the NAP Alignment process of an Early Warning System (EWS) Protocol for

Drought.

To review, assess and propose suitable technical solutions and an approved methodology

for measuring drought impacts (drought types) and an implementation plan for the EWS

on Drought in Guyana.

To identify resources and training this would strengthen the capacity of Agencies, and

support implementation of the EWS for Drought.

2.2.3 Identification and Mainstreaming of Policies to support the implementation

of the Aligned NAP


To review the existing structures with a view of how best to place NAP implementation.

To determine how land degradation and the NAP can be integrated and mainstreamed

into sectoral policies and work programmes.

To prepare a NAP implementation plan and identify barriers to implementation.

2.2.4 Integrated Investment Framework (includes Integrated Financing Strategy)

The objective of this consultancy was:

To develop an Integrated Financial Strategy and Investment Framework, including

proposals for projects and activities for resource mobilization for NAP implementation,

and overcoming the barriers to NAP implementation.

2.2.5 Database to support the preparation of PRAIS Reports


To design and develop an online database for Land Degradation Information in Guyana.


31

To prepare standard electronic forms for data collection, monitoring of National Land

Degradation and reporting to the UNCCD and Government of Guyana.

To conduct training for relevant stakeholders on the use, interpretation and analysis of the

data and the database.

Drafting the Aligned NAP for approval


To conduct stakeholder consultations on the UNCCD reporting process

To prepare an aligned NAP.

2.3 Stakeholder Engagement and Validation

Stakeholders were consulted as an integral part of all the consultancies mentioned above. Their

comments and concerns were incorporated into the respective consultancy reports and ultimately

reflected in the present Aligned NAP. Further, the outline and draft versions of this Aligned

NAP were widely discussed and adjusted in keeping with inputs made by the various

stakeholders. Finally, this report has also been endorsed by the National Action Plan Editorial

Working Group and validated by the National Project Board for the NAPA Project.


32

3 THE DIAGNOSTIC FRAMEWORK AND NATIONAL CONTEXT

This chapter provides an overview of the key national development policies, strategies and plans,

as well as an overview of the key relevant national environmental and socioeconomic variables

related to desertification and land degradation.

3.1 National Development Strategies, Policies, and Plans

The following provides an overview of the relevant national development strategies, policies,

and plans related to desertification and land degradation in Guyana.

3.1.1 Low Carbon Development Strategy, including reference to the

Agreement with Norway on REDD+

The Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2013 has relevance to the Aligned NAP.

Guyana’s LCDS was prepared in 2009 and has since been updated in 2013. The LCDS presents

Guyana’s vision and plan for the country’s forest to be protected and maintained in an effort to

reduce global carbon emissions and at the same time attract payments and financial resources

from developed countries to foster growth and development through a low carbon emissions

path. The LCDS is currently in its implementation phase and is being supported through a

partnership between GOG and the Kingdom of Norway whereby Norway has committed to

providing support to the tune of US$250 million up to 2015 in support of Guyana’s avoided

deforestation (REDD+) efforts and the building of a working model of REDD+. At the time of

preparing this report, Guyana has earned U.S$ 190 million1 as payment for forest climate

services under this partnership, representing the second largest interim REDD+ mechanism

globally (the Brazil-Norway partnership being the first) and has been able to maintain 99% of its

forests. The LCDS also outlined how Guyana intends to ensure that at least 10% of the country’s

land area would be under some form of protection. Activities have progressed in this area,

including the enactment of the Protected Areas Act and the establishment of the Protected Areas

Commission (PAC). Guyana’s policy objective in this area is to achieve the UNCBD target of

having at least 17 % of the country’s land and inland water under some form of protection by

2020.

Broadly speaking, the LCDS aims at combating poverty and responding to the impact of climate

change by avoiding deforestation and creating a low carbon, climate-resilient economy as the

basis for the environmental, social and economic transformation of the country. The LCDS

juxtaposes environmental responsibility and accelerated economic growth as complementary

rather than conflicting objectives. It does this by mobilizing financial payments for the climate

services provided by Guyana’s vast standing forests. In this way, incentives are provided for

forest preservation, and the proceeds are used to finance investment in infrastructural and social

initiatives that target accelerated economic growth along a low carbon path.


33

Guyana’s LCDS is an integrated strategy which encompasses each of the three pillars of

sustainable development (SD): it aims to mainstream sustainable development initiatives,

including efforts to combat climate change; reduce climate related risk and; propel

implementation of measures to adapt to climate change. The LCDS is based on national

development needs and priorities, and was developed through a national consultation exercise

during which vulnerable groups such as indigenous peoples, forest users and dependent

communities, women and youth were engaged in the development of the Strategy. A Multi-

Stakeholder Steering Committee (MSSC) was established to oversee and guide the

implementation of the LCDS. Guyana is working along with a number of partners to support the

implementation of the LCDS.

The Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Guyana and the Kingdom of

Norway (signed November 9, 2009) is being implemented based on three (3) main contextual

approaches: a) Regular, systematic policy and political dialogue to facilitate a constructive

exchange of views on global climate change and relevant environmental issues such as

biodiversity; b) Collaboration, knowledge building, and sharing of lessons learned within the

field of sustainable, low-carbon development, with REDD-plus as the key component of this

and; c) Collaboration on REDD-plus, including establishing a framework for financial support

from Norway into a Guyana REDD-plus Investment Fund. Financial support will be linked to

Guyana's success in limiting greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation

and establishing institutions and practices to strengthen Guyana's ability to reduce deforestation

and forest degradation through the adoption and implementation of a REDD-plus Governance

Development Plan (RGDP).

One important aspect of the work on REDD+ is related to the development of a Monitoring,

Reporting and Verification System (MRVS) that will provide a performance measurement

framework for the REDD+ financing mechanism. This System is implemented by the Guyana

Forestry Commission (GFC) (http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/guyana-receives-us40-million-payment-from-norway-for-climate-

services-and-continued-low-deforestation-300080282.html)

3.1.2 The National Development Strategy 2001-2010

The National Development Strategy (NDS) represents the highest level of national planning. It is

an integrated document outlining the national strategy and policy in a number of priority areas

including agriculture, environment, forestry, fisheries, mining, tourism, land management and

the eradication of poverty. The Strategy was formulated through a comprehensive national

participatory effort and serves as a framework for policy and planning in the respective sectors of

the economy.

Chapter 22 of the NDS deals specifically with land by describing the basic features of land

management, issues and constraints and identifies broad objectives of land policy and a strategy.

Among the key policy objectives identified is the need for better collection and management of

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/guyana-receives-us40-million-payment-from-norway-for-climate-services-and-continued-low-deforestation-300080282.html

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/guyana-receives-us40-million-payment-from-norway-for-climate-services-and-continued-low-deforestation-300080282.html


34

land information and; improving the functioning of institutions with responsibilities for land and

to improve the process of making land available for development activities.

3.1.3 The Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper 2011-2015

The Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) is directly linked to the NDS in the areas of

economic policy, good governance, infrastructure development and improvement in social

services with the objective of reducing poverty. The main goals of the Poverty Reduction

Strategy Paper are: (i) Sustained economic expansion within the context of a deepening

participatory democracy; (ii) Access to social services including education, health, water and

housing; and (iii) Strengthening, and where necessary, expansion of social safety nets.

The NDS and the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper complement each other in setting out the

country‘s economic and social development in the short and long term. Both strategies take into

account environmental and natural resources management, agricultural production, and

improvements in the social sectors, amongst others, which are important to combat land

degradation directly and indirectly. They have a common objective which is the reduction of

poverty. Alleviation of poverty and reversing land degradation goes hand in hand. Both involve

improving food security, educating and training people, strengthening the capacity of local

communities, and community participation.

A revised PRSP was prepared for the period 2011-2015 and rests on the following pillars: broad-

based, low-carbon led job creation; economic growth; accelerated investment in physical

infrastructure in support of growth strategy; stronger governance, institutional, and regulatory

structures; accelerated investment in human capital and primary health and; special intervention

programmes to address regional and demographic pockets of poverty.

3.1.4 National Agricultural Strategy 2013-2020

The National Strategy for Agriculture in Guyana 2013-2020 is based on the F-5 Strategic

Approach for Agriculture:

Food Security – consolidating the End of Hunger in Guyana, ensuring everyone has

enough food in every community

Fiber and Nutritious Food Accessible to citizens – nutrition security for all

Fuel Production - helping to develop alternative fuel sources, reducing dependency on

fossil fuel and creating a bio-energy industry in Guyana

Fashion and Health Products – An agro-process industry which creates a new industry

in Guyana

Furniture and Crafts – an industry which we expect to grow in importance in Guyana


35

Environmental sustainability through the agricultural sector is a priority of the Agriculture

Strategy, fully recognizing Guyana’s lead role in advocacy for and the implementation of

programs for global solidarity to stop climate change and its adverse effects. The National

Strategy for Agriculture in Guyana 2013-2020 outlines twenty five priorities for achieving

success in realizing Guyana’s Vision for Agriculture 2020. Included among these are steps to

safeguard against desertification and land degradation while at the same time ensuring food

security for all of Guyana. It is estimated that 1,740,000 ha of Guyana’s land is being used for

agricultural purposes, however, only about 200,000 ha (500,000 acres) are used effectively with

relatively adequate drainage and irrigation. The National Land Use Plan (August 2013) indicates

that 68% of Guyana’s land area has soils that can accommodate agriculture, while 32% were

considered to have soil not suitable for agriculture.

Priority 19 of the Agriculture Strategy commits Guyana to further develop its Agriculture Risk

Reduction and Disaster Management Program and to base its agricultural expansion and

sustainability efforts on climate-smart agriculture. This involves adaptation and mitigation

initiatives to prevent and manage floods and droughts. The Ministry of Agriculture’s Agriculture

Sector Risk Reduction and Disaster Management Plan for the period 2012 – 2020, includes

among its targets: Institutional capacities for risk assessment, hazard monitoring and

dissemination of early warning information for proactive mitigation, preparedness and response

among all end users, especially at the community level and; disaster risk reduction and climate

change adaptation policies and programmes designed to strengthen resilience to significant

hazards particularly among vulnerable groups.

The Flood Prevention and Drought Control Plan 2013-2020also focuses on reducing and

preventing floods and controlling and mitigating drought events while the National Drainage and

Irrigation Authority (NDIA) addresses the improving and upgrading of drainage and irrigation

services countrywide in ensuring that agricultural land is better protected against adverse

weather-related events. Water Security and, thus Water Management is also identified in the

Agriculture Strategy as being crucial for success and while a network of sluices and pumps to aid

drainage and irrigation exists, it is recognized that this system is still inadequate and that its

maintenance has to be improved upon.

Guyana’s Strategic Approach to Chemicals Management supports the achievement of the goal

agreed at the 2002 Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development of ensuring that,

by the year 2020, chemicals are produced and used in ways that minimize significant adverse

impacts on the environment and human health. The National Strategy for Agriculture identifies

Soil Health as a major priority in the development of a modern and effective agricultural

sector, assuring food security, economic benefits and environmental protection. Soil health is

promoted through the prudent utilization of biological, chemical and physical methods in an eco-

system agronomic approach. Guyana’s Vision for Agriculture 2020 embraces the concept of


36

Integrated Soil Management (ISM) and Integrated Plant Nutrient Management (IPNM) and Pest

Management Practices (PMP).

A further priority of the Agriculture Strategy is to focus on Farming Systems and Techniques,

Biotechnology and Precision-Agriculture in recognition of the significant roles that these play in

improving productivity, competitiveness, promoting commercialization and adaptation for

climate change. The Ministry of Agriculture acknowledges the need for modernization in

Guyana’s farm systems and techniques, including the use of biotechnology and precision-

agriculture.

3.1.5 Costed Strategic Framework for the Ministry of Natural

Resources and the Environment 2013-2018

The goal of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment as described in the Costed

Strategic Framework for the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment 2013-2018 that

was developed in June 2013, is to effectively coordinate and ensure that all of its agencies and

commissions are working together harmoniously to achieve Guyana’s sustainable development

and conservation of its natural resources. The strategic priorities of the Ministry are:

Effective Institutional Framework and Legislation (with 7 expected results)

Holistic and integrated planning (that lists 4 expected results)

Sustainable resource use and monitoring (that lists 7 expected results)

Cross-cutting issues (with 5 expected results)

3.1.6 Strategic Plan for the Rice Industry in Guyana-2012-

2022

Guyana Rice Development Board has a strategic Plan for the rice industry and provides an

overview of existing rice cultivated areas, as well as an overall overview of areas suitable for rice

production. It also identifies the threats facing rice production in Guyana.

The National Rice Strategy and Plan particularly targets Regions 2, 3, and 6, which are the

primary arable and food-producing regions in Guyana.

3.1.7The Integrated Disaster Risk Management Implementation

Strategy and Management Plan 2013

The Integrated Disaster Risk Management Implementation Strategy developed by the Civil

Defence Commission (CDC) in 2013,outlines the way forward for implementing the vision, goal,

strategic objectives, and expected outcomes of Guyana’s National Integrated Disaster Risk

Management Plan (NIDRMP) 2013-2023, over a ten-year timeframe. The Strategy is intended to


37

guide the implementation of projects and initiatives in Guyana – at national, regional and local

levels – that are required in order to meet the NIDRMP’s objectives.

The NIDRMP includes: a profile of Guyana in terms of current trends with regard to disaster;

overview of Disaster Risk Management (DRM) in Guyana; introduction to and the rationale for

NIDRMP; an assessment and gap analysis; and the NIDRMP 2013-2023. The Integrated

Disaster Risk Management Implementation Strategy includes: suggested priority activities and

projects; proposed structure for DRM in Guyana, Operational Plan and Coordination

Mechanisms; the ten-year Implementation Plan; Technical and Financial Resources required and;

the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Framework.

3.1.8 Early Warning Systems Framework 2013

The Early Warning Systems Framework developed by CDC in 2013, outlines: the elements of an

early warning system (EWS); the approaches and guiding principles for an early warning system;

national institutions and stakeholders involved in EWS; pre-conditions and key strategies for

EWS in Guyana and; next steps for the way forward for early warning in Guyana.

3.1.9Disaster Risk Management Policy 2013

The Disaster Risk Management Policy developed by the Civil Defence Commission in 2013 is

divided into six sections as follows:

Section one presents the background and context of the Policy along with key contextual

processes foundational to furthering and implementing integrated disaster risk management

Section two identifies the Policy intent, vision, and details its goals and key strategic

objectives. It also identifies key regional and international approaches to disaster risk

management (DRM) and Guiding Principles and a Code of Conduct

Section three addresses the Institutional Framework for DRM in Guyana

Section four of describes Elemental Strategies for Integrated National Disaster Management.

It also covers Rehabilitation, Recovery and Reconstruction, along with resource mobilization

for disaster risk management

Section five outlines Cross Cutting Capacity Building for Furthering DRM

Section six outlines the Way Forward which calls for robust commitment and policy

implementation as being essential for building trust and commitment among Guyana’s

population in enforcing the policy


38

3.1.10 Draft National Land Use Policy, 2015

Guyana’s National Land Use Policy was last revised in May; 2015.The Draft National Land Use

Policy presents a good opportunity for harmonization of legislation and institutional framework

for sustainable land management and land use planning.

A review of the Draft Policy, done under the SLM Project recommended that SLM principles be

integrated into the Draft Land Use Policy while at the same time offering an overarching

framework for a SLM Policy as another option.

3.1.11 National Forest Policy Statement (2011)

The National Forest Policy Statement was issued in 2011. The overall objective of the Policy is

the conservation, protection, management and utilisation of the nation's forest resources, while

ensuring that the productive capacity of the forests for both goods and services is maintained or

enhanced. Its specific objectives are to:

(a) Promote sustainable and efficient forest activities which utilise the broad range of forest

resources and contribute to national development while allowing fair returns to local and

foreign entrepreneurs and investors;

(b) Achieve improved sustainable forest resource yields while ensuring the conservation of

ecosystems, biodiversity and the environment;

(c) Ensure watershed protection and rehabilitation: prevent and arrest the erosion of soils and the

degradation of forests, grazing lands, soil and water; promote natural regeneration,

afforestation and reforestation and; protect the forest against fire, pests and other hazards;

and

(d) Identify and quantify environmental services to generate forest incentives for national

development.

With regard to REDD+ the Guyana Forestry Commission is committed to support:

a regular, systematic policy and political dialogue to facilitate a constructive exchange of

views on global climate change and relevant environmental issues, such as biodiversity

collaboration, knowledge building, and sharing of lessons learned within the field of

sustainable, low-carbon development, with REDD-plus as the key component of this

collaboration on REDD+

3.1.12 National GIS Policy (2014)

In Guyana, geographic information use is concentrated in the natural resources and

environmental sectors for use in land boundary demarcation, overlays and monitoring. Guyana’s

National Policy on Geographic Information provides the necessary framework for identifying


39

key datasets needed for socio-economic development, and specifies the mechanism for data

collection, storage and dissemination.

The development of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Guyana has seen relatively

significant growth since July 1995 with the assistance of the Natural Resources Management

Project (NRMP). There has been significant deployment of GIS within the operations of the

Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC),

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission

(GL&SC). Many other private and public organisations outside of the natural resources sector

have also embraced GIS technology to varying degrees.

The GIS policy will have direct impact on increased use of the geospatial technologies in many

vital sectors such as health, education, rural and urban development, infrastructure, business, etc.

The policy wills also further the use of GIS in areas of governance, planning and decision

support.

For the successful implementation of the Policy, a national body, theGuyana Geospatial

Advisory Council (GGAC), will need to be established to enforce the data sharing agreements,

data standards, etc.. This body should encompass agencies both within and outside of the natural

resources sector.

3.1.13 National Biodiversity Action Plan 1999

The National Strategy for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Guyana’s Biodiversity was

completed in 1997 as an initial step to define the national position on biodiversity. The Strategy

was preceded by the Country Study on Biological Diversity, which was undertaken in 1992. The

National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP) of 1999 is a product of national policy to elevate

concern for biodiversity to the level of planning and action. It recognizes biodiversity as an

important national asset that offers the country manifold economic options. The basis of the

productive sectors of agriculture, fisheries, forestry and wildlife is biodiversity, in which the

maintenance of diversity offers considerable opportunities and advantages.

The NBAP is consistent with the general direction of the National Development Strategy and

both documents harmonise in respect of matters relating to place and use of biological resources

for development activities. The Plan promotes both the conservation and the responsible use of

biodiversity and biological resources. It comprises a number of programme areas under which

various actions are identified for execution.

Among its objectives is recognized the importance of maintaining high water quality and

preventing serious flooding in part by protecting watersheds from erosion or down-stream

sedimentation and pollution. It recommends that as part of the ecosystem approach to

biodiversity management sectoral entities should be encouraged to adopt integrated land and


40

watershed management and prepare integrated management plans. The NBAP has been in the

implementation phase since 2000, with the EPA coordinating its activities.

3.1.14 National Environmental Action Plan (2001-2005)

The National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP) of 2001-2005 is a follow-on from the NEAP

of 1994 which summarizes the national environment policy and focuses on coastal zone

management, natural resources management including land resources, biodiversity, wildlife,

forestry and ecotourism, waste management and pollution control, and mining. It also takes into

consideration the role of public awareness and education in addressing environmental problems.

The NEAP also identifies and recognizes the roles and functions of relevant stakeholders

including private sector and non-governmental organizations in environmental management.

The NEAP states that "in order to conserve and improve the environment, the Government of

Guyana will endeavour to:

Assure all people living in the country the fundamental right to an environment adequate

for their health and well-being.

Achieve a balance between the use and conservation of the nation's resources to meet the

needs of economic development and improved standards of living.

Conserve and use the environment and natural resources of Guyana for the benefit of

both present and future generations, based on the principle of the exercise of sovereignty.

Maintain ecosystems and ecological processes essential for the functioning of the

biosphere to preserve biological diversity and to observe the principle of optimum

sustainable yield in the use of renewable natural resources and ecosystems, both on land

and the sea.

3.1.15 National Multi-Hazard Disaster Preparedness and Response

Plan, (2013)

The overall aim of the National Multi-hazard Preparedness and Response Plan developed by

CDC in 2013, is to detail arrangements to cope with the effects of natural and/or man-made

disasters occurring in Guyana. It seeks to assign responsibilities and to provide coordination of

emergency activities connected with major disasters, in general and specific ways.

The purpose of the Plan is to enhance the country’s ability to manage all disasters using a

comprehensive disaster management approach. It is also to ensure the timely and effective

assistance to the affected in a coordinated manner, ensuring the greatest protection of life,

property and health. The Plan defines the administrative structure in times of disaster and it

includes: a profile of Guyana; hazard/disaster risks in Guyana; disaster management system;


41

disaster preparedness functions; disaster response functions; early recovery plan and; key next

steps.

3.1.16 National Mangrove Management Action Plan (2001)

The National Mangrove Management Action Plan (NMMAP) of 2001 has been prepared to

foster a more coordinated approach in planning, policy formulation, inter-institutional

cooperation and the implementation of actions. It serves as the framework of an evolving plan

for effective mangrove management in Guyana, including guiding the work of key stakeholders

involved in the utilisation and protection of mangrove resources. The Guyana Forestry

Commission coordinated the development of the Action Plan and is the overall coordinating and

implementing agency. The NMMAP has been endorsed at the Agency level.

The NMMAP is a product of the National Forest Plan and Integrated Coastal Zone Management

Action Plan, recognising mangrove forests as an important coastal and riverine ecosystem and

seeks to elevate concern for mangrove forests, thereby fostering a more coordinated approach to

policy formulation, planning, inter-institutional cooperation and implementation of actions with

regard to mangroves. A number of key actions are proposed within the Plan, principal among

them being (1) reviewing policy and legislation to address the conservation of mangrove forests;

(2) reviewing zonation of mangrove forests; (3) develop minimum operating standards for

mangrove harvesting; (4) research; (5) raising of education and awareness; (6) rehabilitation and

restoration of mangrove sites and (7)monitoring and enforcement.

3.1.17 Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan (2001)

Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) is an ongoing process that seeks to promote the

wise use, development and protection of coastal and marine resources; foster greater

collaboration among sectoral agencies and enhance economic development. In 1999 an

Integrated Coastal Zone Management committee was established to foster a more integrated

approach to coastal zone management by coordinating and facilitating the work of agencies

already directly involved in coastal zone management. In 2001 an Action Plan for Integrated

Coastal Zone Management was produced. The Plan, which has been approved by Cabinet,

addresses policy development, analysis and planning, coordination, public awareness building

and education, control and compliance, monitoring and measurement and information

management. Other activities to be undertaken are the strengthening of the institutional setup for

integrated coastal zone management; the creation of a dynamic public awareness campaign to

bring about deeper and more meaningful appreciation of the vulnerability of the coastal zone to

sea level rise and climate change; the creation of a database of coastal resources to facilitate

improved integrated coastal zone management.


42

3.1.18 National Forest Plan (2011)

The National Forest Plan (NFP) takes into consideration the National Forest Policy Statement of

1997 and proposes a range of activities under five programme areas including land use, forest

management, research and information, forestry training and education, and forest administration

and governance. The overall objective of the National Forest Policy Statement (2011) is the

conservation, protection, management and utilization of the nation’s forest resources, while

ensuring that the productive capacity of the forests for both goods and services is maintained or

enhanced.

One of the three specific objectives of the Policy is to: ensure watershed protection and

rehabilitation; prevent and arrest the erosion of soils and the degradation of forests, grazing

lands, soil and water; promote natural regeneration, afforestation and reforestation and; protect

the forest against fire, pests and other hazards.

The Policy recognizes that the country’s forests provide important services to the country’s

inhabitants: they protect the soil from erosion; they regulate and purify the nation’s water

supplies and; perhaps of greatest importance, they ensure environmental stability. It states that

forest management shall conserve biological diversity and its associated values, water resources,

soils, and unique and fragile ecosystems, and by so doing, maintain the ecological functions and

integrity of the forests.

The National Forest Plan has been endorsed at the Agency level with the Guyana Forestry

Commission taking the lead in coordinating activities.

3.1.19 Guyana Lands & Surveys Commission Strategic Plan (2013-

2017)

The GL&SC Strategic Plan (2013-2017), under Strategic Objective 1, includes reporting on

compliance with international commitments such as the UNCCD. This does not make reference

to the NAP however the NAP does support the achievement of 2 other strategic objectives of the

Commission’s 2013-2017 Strategic Plan: Objective 2 of the Commission’s Strategic Plan is to

make informed land management decisions based on accurate (most recent and reliable)

information. The NAP provides an update on the status of activities aimed at promoting land

management as well as recommends new activities/projects which can be used to achieve same.

Objective 4 of the Strategy seeks to optimize benefits from the land by facilitating maximization

of productive use, through observance of sustainable land management principles and ensuring

compliance with intended and legal land use. Under this objective, the Commission has

committed itself to develop clear guidelines that can be used to determine productive use of land

and ensure that all lands are allocated in accordance with principles of sustainable land

management. The NAP identifies SLM best practices which are key in the preparation of these

guidelines.


43

3.2 Other relevant action plans and programmes

3.4.1 Ministry of Communities, Local Democratic Organs Act (1980)

The Ministry of Communities (formerly the Ministry of Local Government and Regional

Development) is the primary Government Agency which links the various authorities with the

Central Government. It facilitates, coordinates, and monitors the execution and implementation

of a number of projects, programmes and activities in the various local government arms/organs

and ensures that these activities are in conformity with the legal framework and the policies of

the Government.The Mission of the Local Government and Regional Development is to

supervise and maintain the legal regulatory framework of the system of local and regional

administration and to encourage and facilitate the socio-economic development of all the

administrative regions of Guyana. For this purpose the Ministry supports the development of

local governance by building Local Government capacity and maintaining an appropriate

legislative, fiscal and regulatory framework for local governance. The Ministry’s guiding

principles are to: promote accountability at all Local Government levels to their constituencies

and; promote and support a partnership between Central and Local Government and Civil

Society, while maintaining a high degree of professionalism, effectiveness, efficiency and equity.

3.2.2 Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) Programme

The Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) is a semi-autonomous agency under the

Ministry of Agriculture. Its thrust is to “promote greater efficiency in the livestock product

industry and to provide enhanced services in livestock husbandry, livestock health and research

so as to make provision for effective administration and regulation of trade, commerce and

export of livestock or livestock products and for matters related and incidental.” The GLDA

delivers public services related to animal production, animal health, animal genetics, marketing,

training and extension services as well as regulatory services. The agency is also governed by the

Guyana Livestock Development Agency Act.

Among the programmes planned and implemented under the GLDA’s mandate is one that

involves protecting the gains of animal production and genetics through the provision of timely

veterinary interventions and minimizing the threat of disease from internal and external sources.

Veterinary drugs and the importation of animals are also regulated under this programme. A

second programme involves infusing local animal stock with new genetics to enable farmers to

benefit from higher productivity. Techniques of artificial insemination and embryo transfer form

part of the GLDA’s strategies. Superior genetics is supported by a third programme that is

designed to catapult farmers into higher levels of animal husbandry through better nutrition,

housing and access to authentic and validated information.


44

The GL&SC issues leases for grazing which are premised on certain conditions given the

potential for causing land degradation due to overgrazing of livestock.

3.2.3 Solid Waste Management Programme.

The general objective of the Georgetown Solid Waste Management Program is to contribute to

the improvement of the environmental conditions and quality of life of the population in

Georgetown and its environs. Its purpose is to implement sustainable solutions to solid waste

management in these areas. The Program addresses solid waste disposal through the

implementation of a sanitary landfill at Haags Bosch with private sector participation.

In the attempt to provide a sustainable solution to the solid waste collection and disposal

problems in Georgetown and participating National Democratic Councils, the program focuses

on: strengthening the capacity of the Municipal Solid Waste Management Department of the

Municipality of Georgetown to manage and dispose of solid waste and improve collection

logistics and cost recovery; raising public awareness within Georgetown and the NDCs for a

better management of solid waste among households, industries, commerce, etc.; Implementing

the Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill, with the participation of a specialized operator; providing

resources to study and define technologies to treat health care health services and hazardous

waste; implementing a more efficient waste collection at the National Democratic Councils

participating in the project; providing additional resources to rehabilitate and close the Mandela

landfill.

3.2.4 GFC’s Code of Practice for Forest Operations (2014)

The Code of Practice for Timber Harvesting Operations sets out the principles, policies and

guidelines for improved forest management and timber harvesting practices. The Code contains

practices and sets standards, which have been developed based on ongoing research and practical

experience locally and abroad. The Code assists in minimizing negative impacts of timber

harvesting, through effective implementation of reduced-impact logging guidelines, participation

in the planning process by all stakeholders, and integration with other sustainable forest

management instruments.

The first draft of the Code of Practice was produced in 1994, and the first Code of Practice for

Forest Operations became operational on a voluntary basis in October 1998. The Code is under

regular review and the results of research; field experience and public input will be used to make

progressive improvements so that environmentally sound, socially responsible and economically

acceptable production forestry can be maintained.


45

Approximately 60% of the State Forests have been allocated to timber harvesting concessions:

Timber Sales Agreement: are granted for up to twenty-five (25) years for areas more than

24,000 hectares

Wood-cutting lease: are granted for up to ten (10) years for 8,000-24,000 hectares

State Forests permission: are granted for two (2) year period for areas less than 8,000

hectares

The Code of Practice sets minimum operational standards including requirements to plan for

selection of trees, tree fall direction, skid trail layouts and the sub-division of concessions into

blocks which are managed on 25-60 year cutting cycles.

GFC has a Code of Practice for Forest Operations 3rd Edition for State Forest Permission

Holders (Small-Scale Forest Operators), and Code of Practice for Forest Operations, 3rd Edition

For Timber Sales Agreement and Wood Cutting License Holders.

Code of Practice for Forest Operations – Timber Sales Agreement and Wood cutting License

Holders is implemented by the GFC to promote harvesting practices to improve standards of

utilization, reduce environmental impacts, and promote sustainable forest utilization.

3.2.5 Monitoring, Reporting and Verification System

Under the framework of the LCDS, a national system referred to as Monitoring, Reporting and

Verification System (MRVS) to monitor/measure, report and verify emissions or removals of

carbon from the forest sector was developed by the GFC and is currently being implemented.

The MRV system provides the basis for reporting in accordance with the principles and

procedures agreed to by GoG in relation to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest

degradation. In addition to the MRVS there are other forest governance initiatives being pursued

under the LCDS which are intended to improve sustainability and enforcement of standards to

prevent environmental degradation and excessive forest loss. Some of these measures include the

country’s commitments to the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative and the European

Union Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (EU-FLEGT) programme

(https://eiti.org/guyana).

3.2.6 European Union Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade

(EU-FLEGT)

The GoG sought to align domestic standards in the forestry sector with those of a global body to

support the long term development of trade in sustainable forest products. To that extent, the

Government aligned with the EU-FLEGT initiative. The GoG and the European Union (EU) are


46

working towards concluding negotiations on a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) by 2016,

with specific deadlines being:

By March 2016, finalise technical aspects of the VPA

By June 2016, finalise legal aspects of the VPA

By September 2016, formally ratify the agreement

The document “Roadmap for Guyana” highlights the EU FLEGT VPA Process

(http://www.forestry.gov.gy/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Roadmap-for-Guyana-EU-FLEGT-VPA-

Process-Final-January-2013.pdf)

3.5 Acts and Regulations

3.5.1 Mining Act (1989)

The Mining Act of 1989, last amended in 2010, is the main legislative instrument for managing

mining in Guyana including its health and safety and environmental impacts. The Act makes

provisions with respect to prospecting for and mining of metals, minerals and precious stones,

for regulating their conveyance and for matters connected therewith. It stipulates the procedures,

terms and conditions relating to: the right to guardianship of minerals; prospecting and mining

on large-scale; prospecting licenses; steps after discovery of mineral; mining licenses;

cancellation of license and force majeure; enlargement of prospecting or mining area section;

prospecting and mining o medium and small scale; financial aspects pertaining to mining; export

of radioactive minerals; safety in mines and health and welfare of workers; restriction on rights

of holder of license or permit and surface rights; quarry license; geological and geophysical

survey; registration and licensing of dredges, etc.; forfeiture of aircraft, etc.; special provisions

relating to Amerindians section; repeals, savings and amendments of certain enactments and;

miscellaneous matters.

The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) is the statutory body that processes all

applications for mineral properties in Guyana.

3.5.2 Mining Amendment Regulations (2005)

Included as part of the Mining Act of 1989, are Mining Amendment Regulations which stipulate

which regulations were amended and what the amendments were. These Regulations denote fees

for a total of twenty two prescriptions. These fees include annual rents, application fees,

certification of documents, etc. The Regulations made under the Mining Act stipulate the rules

governing: the use of poisonous substances; requirements for environmental management for

large and medium scale mining; requirements for environmental management for small scale

mining; protected areas; pollution control; offences and penalties and; definitions of closed areas

and state mining reserves.

3.5.3 Forest Act (2009; amendment 2010)

http://www.forestry.gov.gy/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Roadmap-for-Guyana-EU-FLEGT-VPA-Process-Final-January-2013.pdf

http://www.forestry.gov.gy/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Roadmap-for-Guyana-EU-FLEGT-VPA-Process-Final-January-2013.pdf


47

The Forest Act Chapter 67:02 promotes the use of sustainable forestry, through participation

with local communities. It also provides for the declaration of Protected Areas within the

framework of the Environmental Protection Act, along with the establishment of a code of

practice which can be amended as required. The Act increases coordination with mining,

introducing the requirement for a consultation before the granting of any license for mining or

petroleum prospecting or production.

The Act was unanimously passed by Parliament in 2009 and it replaces the previous 1953 Act,

amended in 1972, 1979 (which established the Guyana Forestry Commission), 1982 (which

introduced large-scale harvesting concessions), and 1996 (which introduced timber exploratory

permits).

3.5.4 Environmental Protection Act (1996)

Recognizing the critical importance of the environment in development, the GoG enacted the

Environmental Protection Act in 1996, which unified legislation on environmental protection in

Guyana. The Environmental Protection Act identifies and confers responsibilities to the

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in various areas of environmental management

including monitoring, public awareness, enforcement and conservation of natural resources. The

EPA, through agreements (Memorandum of Understanding), has influenced environmental

management capacity to be streamlined and strengthened at other natural resources management

institutions.

3.5.5 Environmental Authorization Regulations (2000)

The Environmental Protection (Authorizations) Regulations 2000 contained in the

Environmental Protection Act 1996 stipulate the terms and conditions for granting environmental

authorizations to any requesting applicant. Upon the evaluation of an application, the applicant

is required to furnish any relevant document, information or environmental impact assessment as

required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Upon approval of an application, the

holder of an authorization is required to take all reasonable steps to: establish an environmental

monitoring programme; avoid all adverse environmental impacts which could result from the

activity; minimize the adverse environmental impact where the avoidance is impractical;

mitigate the impact where the impact cannot be avoided; avoid cross media transference and;

compensate for impacts.

Every holder of an environmental authorization is required to maintain the records stipulated by

the Regulations, including those pertaining to environmental monitoring, for a period of not less

than three years. These records are to be made available to the Agency as required, to determine

compliance with the environmental authorization or whether cause exists for modifying, varying,

suspending, revoking or re-issuing the authorization. It is the duty of the Agency to ensure that

the activities authorized by the Environmental Authorization do not cause pollution of the

environment or harm to human health.


48

The following are Environmental Authorizations and guidelines to prevent and reduce land

degradation which must be complied with by developers in order to obtain a permit from the

EPA:

Environmental Guidelines for Transportation, Storage and Occupational Handling of

Chemical/Industrial Hazardous Waste (approved September 2011)

Environmental Guidelines for Storage, Transportation and Occupational Handling of

Biomedical Waste (approved September 2011)

Environmental Guidelines for Preparation of an Environment Management Plan

(approved March 2013)

Environmental Guidelines for Removal, Treatment and Disposal of Oily Sludge

(approved September 2011)

Environmental Guidelines for Poultry Rearing (approved March 2013)

Environmental Guidelines for Spray Painting Operations (approved September 2011)

Environmental Guidelines for Swine Rearing (approved September 2011)

3.5.6 Protected Areas Act (2011)

The Protected Areas Act was passed by Guyana's National Assembly in July 2011. The Act

provides for the protection and conservation of Guyana’s natural heritage and natural capital and

maintenance of ecosystem services, as well as sustainable use of biodiversity. It provides for the

establishment of a protected areas commission, the creation of national protected areas system

and the establishment of a protected areas trust fund.

Enshrined in the Act are penalties for individuals who invade a protected area without the

permission from the Commissioner or the Minister. Second time offenders are liable to be fined

between G$100,000 to G$ 2,000,000 based on the severity of the crime while third-time

offenders can face up to five years imprisonment.

The Protected Areas Legislation paved the way for the establishment of the Protected Areas

Commission (PAC) in 2012. The PAC is responsible for ‘protection and conservation of

Guyana’s natural heritage and natural capital through the coordination and management of the

National Protected Areas System (NPAS)’. Prior to the establishment of the PAC, the

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which is the country’s focal point for the Convention

on Biological Diversity, solely coordinated the National Protected Areas Systems (NPAS).

Under the NPAS, four areas of extraordinary biological value were designated legally Protected

Areas: Kaieteur National Park, Shell Beach, the Kanuku Mountains, and the Iwokrama International

Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development (IIC). Konashen, a community owned Conservation

Area, is intended to be instituted under the NPAS. Other areas proposed for protection include

Mount Roraima and Orinduik Falls. These areas ensure effective protection and sustainable


49

management of ecosystems within Guyana through a national system of protected areas which is

self-sustained, transparent, decentralised and managed through partnerships.

3.5.7 Draft Environmental Protection Compliance and Enforcement

Regulations

These regulations are the national governing standards for acceptable levels of noise, air quality

and water quality respectively, as well as the regulations for enforcing these regulations. The

Enforcement Regulations serve to enforce the environmental regulations. In addition, new

regulations will enforce wildlife, mining, forestry and other regulations via environmental

authorizations granted.

3.5.8 Environmental Protection Litter Enforcement Regulations (2013)

Litter is defined as any solid or liquid material or product or combination of solid or liquid

materials or products including but not limited to bottles, tins, derelict vehicles, packaging

materials, paper, glass, food, garbage, animal remains, waste, etc. and any other material or

product that is designated as litter by the Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment.

Under the Environmental Protection (Litter Enforcement) Regulations 2013, it is an offence to:

deposit litter in a public place; dispose of litter from a motor vehicle or trailer; fail to provide a

receptacle for litter as the owner of a bus and; litter the premises of another person. Litter

Prevention Wardens, officially appointed by the relevant authorities, are authorized to enforce

the provisions of the Litter Enforcement Regulations. Such authority includes the power to

arrest any person guilty of an offence under the Regulations. Penalties for littering include the

imposition of fines ranging from G$ 15,000 to G$ 100,000 by the court; an order to clean the

area littered and; payment of cost for the removal of litter.

3.5.9 Wildlife Management and Conservation Regulations (2013)

The Wildlife Management and Conservation Regulations provide for the management and

conservation of wildlife to regulate the capturing, gathering, collecting, hunting, killing or taking

of wildlife, for any purpose or use, including bush meat, scientific research and medicinal use. It

also determines the wildlife areas and the classification of wildlife, including the determination

of whether a species is vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered. In addition, the

Regulations stipulate the prohibited wildlife collecting devices and methods. The Environmental

Protection Agency is responsible for the administration of these Regulations and any person who

is found guilty of committing an offence is liable to pay a fine ranging from G$ 30,000 to

G$ 750,000 and a period of imprisonment ranging from three months to a year, depending on the

severity of the offence.


50

As part of Guyana’s obligation to the UNCCD, the country is tasked with reporting on trends in

biodiversity-related indicators specific to the global Aichi Targets. The most recent National

Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2012-2020 was recently prepared and approved by

Cabinet in May 2015. Within this document, priority actions are identified that will contribute to

attainment of the various Aichi Targets. While these priority actions and corresponding targets

are included in the document, no indicators have been specified. Considering the recent

completion of the document, implementation of new objectives under the plan has not yet

commenced. (The Plan also indicates initiatives that are ongoing as part of the mandate of the

respective sector agencies). The Fifth National Report to the Convention on Biodiversity

(approved by Cabinet in May 2015) includes a table on progress of achievement of the Aichi

Targets. Information for Target 7 can be found in Table 12: page 74-76 as well as from page

58-64 of this document).

Indicators used to measure progress towards the Aichi Biodiversity Targets

Target: By 2020, areas under agriculture, aquaculture and forestry are managed sustainably,

ensuring conservation of biodiversity. In achieving this, the following have been proposed for

the country (National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plan (NBSAP), page 46):

o Implementation of a well functioning REDD + framework-Lead Agency-GFC

o Development of a National Conflict Resolution Strategy for REDD + -Lead

Agency-GFC

o Development of guidelines for responsible recreational fishing and best practices

in ornamental fish collection and handling- Lead Agency-Ministry of

Agriculture.

Target: By 2020, ecosystem resilience and the contribution of biodiversity to carbon stocks have

been enhanced through conservation and restoration, including restoration of at least 15 % of

degraded ecosystems, thereby contributing to climate mitigation and adaptation and to

combating desertification. (NBSAP, pages 45-46). In achieving this, the following has been

proposed for the country:

Restoration of mined out sites - Identification of priority hotspots and three (3) priority

sites for intervention and structural and vegetative reclamation intervention were outputs

of the Land Reclamation Project – Lead Agency, Department of Natural Resources and

the Environment.

Reclamation of mined out sites (Puruni, Baramita) - Lead Agency, Guyana Geology and

Mines Commission

Restoration of mangrove belt- Lead Agency, Ministry of Agriculture (Mangrove Action

Committee, National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute


51

3.5.10 Guyana Lands & Surveys Commission Act (1999)

The Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC) was established in 1999 with its primary

function to have charge of and act as guardian over all public lands, rivers and creeks of Guyana.

Its functions also include to; execute cadastral and geodetic surveys; publish maps; maintain

records and provide access to land records; advise on land policy and; prepare land use plans.

With this in mind and recognizing that the Commission has superior authority of all state lands in

the Country (70% of all lands), the NAP and further the Aligned NAP informs GL&SC’s role as

guardian by ensuring that lands are not only administered efficiently and effectively, but

furthermore ensures that land undergoes only productive use after being administered to the

public. The alignment of the NAP aids in the development and documentation of Sustainable

Land Management guidelines, adherence to which would ensure the productive use of the land.

Given the Commission’s capacity to inform policy, it is well positioned to carry out this function

through the eventual implementation of the Aligned NAP, the development of which employed a

strong multi-sectoral approaching capturing and storing information from various key

stakeholder agencies.

3.5.11 Amerindian Act (2006)

The Amerindian Act provides for “the recognition and protection of the collective rights of

Amerindian Villages and Communities, the granting of land to Amerindian Villages and

Communities, and the promotion of good governance within Amerindian Villages and

Communities”.

The Amerindian Act establishes a procedure for land claims to be settled, and transfers authority

from the Government to Amerindian Villages and Village Councils. The Amerindian Act thus

supports and facilitates local governance, thereby allowing Amerindian Villages to make

decisions related to land occupancy, sustainable use, and, traditional activities.

Once a title is transferred to an Amerindian community, the community owns the forest

resources on that land. Under the Amerindian Act, the community has a right to decide who can

use the forest. With regard to mining, the Act provides two very important rights for Amerindian

Communities. First, Amerindians have traditional privilege to mine. Second, Amerindians have

a veto over small-scale and medium-scale mining by external parties on their titled lands except

if there is a larger scale project in the public interest. The Amerindian Act also established the

National Toshaos Council which plays a crucial role in the development of Low Carbon

Development Strategy and the involvement of Amerindian communities.

3.3.12 Sea and River Defence Act (1933)

The Sea Defence Act makes provision for the maintenance and construction of the sea defences

in Guyana. It also specifies the boundaries of the sea defence districts within the country. The


52

Sea Defence Board is charged with the care, maintenance, management and construction of the

sea defences. In constructing any new sea defence, a plan and an estimate of cost is prepared and

the relevant land is surveyed for the construction of the sea defence. After the Minister grants

approval for the construction, provision has to be made for funding and the expenditure has to be

sanctioned by Parliament. In cases of imminent threats posed by breaches in the sea defence, the

Minister grants approval for immediate action to mitigate any inundation. Any person who

commits any act that impairs the efficiency and operation of the sea defence is liable to be fined

and/or imprisoned.

3.3.13 Water and Sewerage Act (2002)

The Water and Sewerage Act 2002 provides for the regulation, ownership, management, control,

protection and conservation of water resources, the provision of safe water, sewerage services

and advisory services. The National Water Council oversees the development, review,

management and coordination of the National Water Policy. The Council also conducts analyses

of national and regional water use, including threats to water resources. The National Water

Policy was developed with due consideration given to the principles that: water is a natural

resource and should be used to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising

the needs of future generations; water resources should be equitably allocated for the social and

economic benefit of the people of Guyana and; water resources should be protected, conserved

and used sustainably.

3.3.14 National Drainage and Irrigation Act (1941)

The Drainage and Irrigation Act establishes the Drainage and Irrigation Board and defines its

duties and powers. The Board has the sole control and management of drainage and irrigation

works in Guyana. The Act also specifies the drainage and irrigation areas in Guyana, their

boundaries, and the fees for process and transport.

3.4 National Context: Geography, Climate/Weather, Natural Resources, Land

Cover and Productivity.

This section provides summary national data on key relevant variables in relation to

Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought (DLDD)for Guyana, and more broadly on the

relationship between DLDD and sustainable development.

3.4.1 Geography

Guyana is a tropical country, situated on the northeastern coast of the continent of South

America between 1 degree and 9 degrees north latitudes, and 56 degrees and 62 degrees west

longitudes. It is bounded on the north by the Atlantic Ocean, on the east by Suriname, on the


53

south and southwest by Brazil and on the west by Venezuela. It occupies a total landmass of

approximately 216,000 square km and has a coastline that is about 434 km long and varies in

width from 5 to 40 km with a continental extent of about 724 km. About 35 percent of the

country - the area approximately below 4 degrees north latitude – lies within the Amazon Basin.

There are three main rivers – the Essequibo, Demerara and Berbice, all of which drain into the

Atlantic Ocean.

Guyana has close relations with Caribbean countries because of its similarities due to its past

British Colonial influence and its membership to the Caribbean Community and Common

Market (CARICOM), which is headquartered in Georgetown, the capital city of Guyana.

Guyana has four main natural geographic regions: the Coastal Plain; Hilly Sand and Clay

Region; Highland Region and; the Rupununi Savannahs. The Coastal Plain lies about 1.4 meters

below mean high tide level and is protected by natural and man-made sea defences. Most of the

population resides on the coastal plain (see Figure 1 below).which consists of the most fertile

lands in the country.

The Hilly Sand and Clay Region occupies the north-eastern section of Guyana. This undulating

upland varies in height from 2 meters to 400 meters.This geosynclinal trough of sediment is

thickest (2000m) in the Berbice Region, increasing towards the Corentyne River and continues

into Suriname. Of Pliocene-Pleistocene age, the unconsolidated material comprises 85 percent

white quartz sand with pockets of brown and yellow sand. The high porosity enhances

infiltration and leaching of the thin layer of dark humus of the topsoil, giving stream water a

reddish tint.

The Highland Region comprising the Pakaraima Mountains,forms a part of the extensive Guiana

Highlands that covers an area of 1,300,000 km in Guyana, Venezuela and Brazil. It comprises a

series of horizontal beds of quartzitic sandstone,conglomerate and intrusive rocks of almost Pre-

Cambrian age. Varying in height from 500m to 2777m at Mt.Roraima, this formation comprises

a series of plateaus and tablelands with sharp edges and precipitous escarpments. The plateaus

are dissected by many streams and gullies thereby creating deep gorges and waterfalls.

Large tributaries of the Essequibo rise in this upland namely the Cuyuni, Mazaruni and Potaro

Rivers which have gold and diamond deposits. The Potaro is well known for the world-famous

Kaieteur Falls, which at 225 m is the highest sheer-drop waterfall in the world.

The Savannahs consist of the Intermediate Savannah and the Hinterland or Rupununi Savannah.

The Intermediate Savannah, in the eastern part of the country, lies between the Coastal Plain and

the Hilly Sand and Clay region. The larger interior or Rupununi Savannah is located in the

southwest and is divided into the North and South Savannahs by the Kanuku mountains. The


54

North Savannah is hillier than the South Savannah and grasslands characterize both areas. Cattle

ranching and farming are two of the main activities in the Interior Savannah.

Figure 1: Natural geographic regions of Guyana

3.4.2 Climate/Weather

Guyana’s climate has traditionally been uniform and characterised by high temperatures,

humidity and heavy rainfall with temperatures along the coast of an average high of 320C and a

low of 240C; humidity is around 70% year round and rainfall averaging 250 cm annually with


55

two rainy seasons on the coast (May-June and December-January) and one in the southernmost

region (April-September). The major weather system is the Inter-tropical Convergence Zone and

the major climate system is the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO).

However, within the last two decades, Guyana has experienced unpredictable changes in weather

patterns characterised by severe El Niño in 1997-8 and extreme levels of precipitation on the

coast in 2005 and 2006 resulting in widespread flooding along the coast to the extent that several

areas were declared disaster areas. Guyana’s threats from natural disasters come mainly from

flooding due to the low-lying nature of its coast.

Table 1: Droughts in Guyana and their relation to El Niño

Drought Pacific Ocean

March 1987 El Niño

January 1988 El Niño

October 1997 Severe El Niño

April 2003 Immediately after El Niño

September 2006 El Niño

February 2007 Immediately after El Niño

November 2009 El Niño

January 2010 El Niño

Source: Desinventar and NOAA

3.4.3 Natural Resources

Guyana is well endowed with natural resources including fertile agricultural lands, diverse

mineral deposits, and an abundance of tropical rain forests. The agriculture sector (mainly sugar

and rice) which is estimated to be in excess of 95%, is concentrated on the coast and is one of the

most important sectors to the economy in terms of the sectoral composition of real Gross

Domestic Product (GDP). The agriculture sector contributed 22.8%; marginally higher than

22.1% at the end of 2013. (Source: BOG Annual Report, 2014, page 141).

Agriculture contributes almost 20% to Guyana’s economy with almost 40% of Guyana’s export

earnings coming from agriculture. Agriculture Sector is one of the largest areas for investment

in Guyana’s economy with more than $50B invested in current expenditure each year by small

scale and large farming enterprises. Mining (gold, diamond and bauxite) and forestry also

contribute significantly to the GDP which has continued to grow over the last decade.

The natural resource base of Guyana is dominated by forests which cover some 87% (18.3

million ha)(GFC Forestry Policy Statement, 2011) of the land area and includes wet evergreen

forest, dry evergreen forest, semi-deciduous forest and tall to low scrub. Non-forest vegetation

areas are found on the coastal plain, the intermediate and Rupununi savannahs and in the

Pakaraima highlands). The forests contain extensive biodiversity with a rich variety of plant and

animal life, including endangered wildlife, endemic species and unique ecosystems.


56

Mineral deposits are also extensive: mainly bauxite, gold and diamonds are exploited. The other

principal elements of the natural resource base include abundant quantities of freshwater,

agricultural land, and extensive fisheries resources.

These valuable natural resources form the basis of economic activity in Guyana. The impacts of

human activities on these resources, either in quality or quantity, are of socio-economic and

environmental importance. In this respect, the Government of Guyana has established

complementary organisational infrastructures to manage the operational programmes in the

following sectors in an environmentally sustainable way:.

3.4.4 Land Cover and Productivity

(SO2-1): Estimates, and trends in the distribution of the main land cover classes at the national

level (e.g., forests, shrubs, grassland and sparsely vegetated areas, cultivated areas).

Table 2 provides an overview of the estimates of the distribution of the main land cover classes in

affected areas in Guyana (extent in square kilometers, and proportion of the area covered by each class

in percent of the total extent of affected areas) based on Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission’s

National Land Use Plan, Guyana Sugar Corporation Field Reporting System, Guyana Rice

Development Board, New Guyana Marketing Corporation, and MRVS (2014).

Table 2: Estimates of Land Productivity Within Each Land Cover Type

Default data are derived from the Global Land Cover-SHARE databaseof the FAO and refer to the

arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid classesof the UNEP aridity index for the period 2012 -

2015.URL:http://www.glcn.org/databases/lc_glcshare_en.jsp

Natural and semi-natural vegetation

Cultivated areas

Other areas

Forests Shrubs,

grassland and

sparsely vegetated areas

Cropland Wetlands and

water bodies

Bare land and

other areas

Km2 % Km2 % Km2 % Km2 % Km2 %

185,716

87.79 14,328 6.77 3180 1.50 3052 1.44 122 0.06

Local Data sourced from the 2013 National Land Use Plan

http://www.glcn.org/databases/lc_glcshare_en.jsp


57

3.5 Status of Land Degradation and Drought

(SO 3-1).

This section describes the status of land degradation and drought in Guyana, including the

identification of ‘affected areas’.

3.5.1 Areas affected by Desertification Land Degradation and Drought

According to the UNCCD, land degradation is the “reduction or loss, in arid, semi-arid and dry

sub-humid areas, of the biological or economic productivity and complexity of rain-fed cropland,

irrigated cropland, or range, pasture, forest and woodlands resulting from land uses or from a

process or combination of processes, including processes arising from human activities and

habitation patterns, such as: (i) soil erosion caused by wind and/or water; (ii) deterioration of the

physical, chemical and biological or economic properties of soil; and (iii) long term loss of

natural vegetation;”. Simply put, land degradation is a natural process (such as wind and water

erosion, salt water intrusion, floods etc.) or a human activity (such as mining, logging,

unsustainable farming practices etc.) that results in the land not being able to sustain properly its

economic functions or the original ecological functions (ISO 1996, FAO 1998).

The following provides an overview of the drought, land degradation and deforestation in

Guyana from an overall national perspective. Broadly speaking, there is not yet a consolidated

detailed spatial overview or scientific study of land degradation in Guyana. Therefore, it is

important to acknowledge and recognize that the true extent of land degradation may be higher

than hitherto thought, and that there is a need for improved surveillance of areas with emerging

land degradation threats, such as in or near prospective mining areas.

3.5.2 Methodology used for identifying affected areas

The methodology used to identify areas affected by land degradation was informed by a variety

of methodologies that allowed a team of analysts that did an assessment of land degradation in

Guyana to capture the complex and diverse nature of data required for a study of this nature. The

methodologies included:

Consultation with Implementing and Executing Agencies and Stakeholders

Review of documents/reports

Training/institutional capacity building

Flyover exercise

The National Assessment of Land Degradation Report (2008) reported that land degradation

ranged between 150,000 and 160,000 hectares, with a potential projected increase to between


58

200,000 and 250,000 hectares within a 10-year period.Figure 2 shows the locations of specific

areas and points across the country which have been classified as being affected by DLDD.

Figure 2: Areas classified as being affected by DLDD


59

3.5.3 Drought

Drought is a normal part of climate and occurs in virtually all regions of the world. Recent

droughts have illustrated the vulnerability of South America and the Caribbean to extended

periods of precipitation deficiency. Drought preparedness planning has become a widely

accepted tool for governments at all levels to apply to reduce the risks to future events.

Because of drought’s slow onset characteristics, monitoring and early warning systems provide

the foundation for an effective drought mitigation plan. Drought differs from other natural

hazards in several ways. First, since the effects of drought often accumulate slowly over a

considerable period of time and may linger for years after the termination of the event, the onset

and end of drought is difficult to determine.

Another distinguishing feature of drought is its duration. Droughts usually require a minimum of

two to three months to become established but then can continue for months or years. The

magnitude of drought impacts is closely related to the timing of the onset of the precipitation

shortage, its intensity, and the duration of the event. As with other natural hazards, drought has

physical, social, and economic components. Well-conceived policies, preparedness plans, and

mitigation programs can greatly reduce societal vulnerability and, therefore, the risks associated

with drought.

There are many challenges to improving the management of droughts. Because of its slow onset

characteristics and lack of structural impacts, it is often disregarded. This lack of recognition of

the importance of drought as a natural hazard by some actors has been an impediment to

obtaining adequate financial support and, in many instances, an obstacle to building awareness

among policymakers at the local, national, regional, and international level. This lack of

awareness, in turn, has resulted in an under-appreciation of drought and its far-reaching impacts.

It has also perpetuated the process of dealing with drought in a crisis management mode.

3.5.4 Drought in Guyana

Drought is ranked very low as a hazard affecting Guyana. The majority of agencies identified

flooding as the major hazard. This is due largely to fact that the incidence of drought has been

intermittent with main events recalled for 2009-10 and 1997-98. Low ranking is attributed to low

visibility of drought risks and the fact that surface water sources are plentiful. It is also

noteworthy that there is no map showing drought prone areas.

Guyana has suffered meteorological, agricultural, hydrometeorological and socio-economic

drought in the last two major drought events which caused economic losses of about US$43.7

million. In 1997/98 drought resulted in forest fires in Guyana, water rationing, cessation of

logging and river transport in some places, about 35 % of rice fields were uncultivated, and

affected more than 1500 Amerindian families in Southern Guyana. During the 2009-10 drought,


60

the Government of Guyana (GoG) spent US$1.3 million to bring relief to farmers in Region 2

and US$16,000 daily in Region 5 on water services. The water level at the East Demerara Water

Conservancy dropped below safe limit for irrigation and there were incidences of diarrhea which

was attributed to use of unsafe water that were reported. These impacts underpin the importance

of having an effective Drought Early Warning System (DEWS).

However, with climate variability and change, drought may become more frequent as rainfall is

projected to become uncertain, with most models predicting a decrease in annual precipitation in

the Caribbean region of 5 to 15 % with the greatest change during June to August.The sector

most affected by drought is agriculture which accounts for 33 percent of employment and about

50% of export earnings (Source: BOG Annual Report, 2014). The likely impact on production

has implications on export earnings from mainly rice and sugar due to reduced irrigation

capacity, volume of food imports to mitigate the shortfalls, livestock production (causes

livestock death, reduces fertility, forage production, reduces livestock productivity, and off-take).

The impact of drought on livelihoods (e.g. crop production, aquaculture, micro and small scale

enterprises, etc.), is recognized especially for farmers in the hinterland. This is more so for the

small to medium scale farmers who are more vulnerable to drought because of their dependence

on rain-fed agriculture and creeks which would dry up during the dry season. As a consequence,

they face much greater relative loss of assets.

Other sectors affected include natural resources (especially forestry as drought affects

transportation of logs, biodiversity), public works, health, mining, inland navigation. Drought is

recognised as one of the disaster risks that Guyana faces in both the EWS Framework (CDC

2013) and the Multi-hazard Disaster Preparedness and Response Plans (CDC 2013) but the

response plans are only designed for emergencies associated with rapid onset hazards and

disasters. The National Integrated Disaster Risk Management Plan and Implementation Strategy

for Guyana (CDC 2013) identify the development of a National Drought Response Plan as a

priority.

Because various sectors are affected by drought, monitoring and impact assessment will include

agricultural production, depletion of water resources, livestock production, land degradation,

deforestation and human health.

Data for monitoring impact of data is readily available. However, in most agencies the data is

scattered and not contained in an institutional database. This needs to be addressed in order to

facilitate monitoring of indicators and to establish historical trends.


61

3.5.5 National Context

3.5.5.1 Geography - Coastal Zone

Sea level rise, destruction of mangroves, and coastal subsidence are among the principal

pressures on the coastal sea defences. In the aftermath of the January 2005 floods, while

significant strides have been made to improving the system of drainage and irrigation, these

efforts are still challenged by issues of managing solid waste, operational efficiency of key

drainage and irrigation infrastructure such as kokers and the continual clearing and maintaining

of waterways.

The threat to natural sea defence is ever present with the use of mangrove forest not being

monitored or regulated. While there have been efforts to develop an Integrated Mangrove

Management Plan there is a lack of data on status and use in terms of distribution, extent and

removal. Apart from its role as a natural barrier to the sea, mangroves are an important

ecosystem and their destruction represents a loss of habitat for wildlife and fish.

3.5.5.2 Biodiversity and Conservation

Guyana is a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CDB), which commits nations

of the world to conserve biological diversity and to ensure that biological resources are used

sustainably. The GoG adopted its National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP) on 30 November,

1999 and is making progress in the implementation of several programme areas such as research,

administrative and legal framework, public awareness and ex-situ and in-situ conservation. The

establishment of protected areas is in Programme Area 6 of the NBAP and a Protected Areas

Secretariat was established under the EPA to coordinate the establishment of a protected areas

system in Guyana while the World Bank GEF Guyana Protected Areas System Project is moving

forward with support from KfW. Some aspects of environmental protection and natural resource

conservation are also laid out in the National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP, 2001-2005).

The success of all of these programmes depends on the availability of institutional, human and

financial resources, which are being sought. The GoG also established collaborative agreements

with several institutions that work on biodiversity such as the Smithsonian Institution,

Conservation International, Iwokrama International Rainforest Programme, World Wildlife

Fund, and Flora & Fauna International.

3.5.5.3 National Land Use Plan (2013)

The GoG has recognized that effective land use planning is of vital importance to the sound

management of Guyana’s vast natural resources. The National Land Use Plan (NLUP) was

approved by Cabinet in 2013 and provides land use options for multiple land uses based on

resources. In addition to the NLUP, seven Regional Land Use Plans have been prepared. The

NLUP is a living document and it is considered the primary national planning instrument.

The NLUP report includes maps of land availability and regional development options along

with potential infrastructure links and potential development ‘hotspots’. This Aligned NAP


62

should serve to inform the NLUP concerning land degradation issues and thus fine tune and

adjust planning stipulated by the NLUP.

Table 3: Summary of the National Land Use Plan

Rationale for

the National

Land Use Plan

Land is a fixed resource which should be managed optimally

For direction and guidance on the best use of the land, both to meet the

needs of today but also to ensure that the future generation have the

resources they need for their lives

Land has overlapping resources and the land users have conflicts - loggers

and miners, foresters and cultivators, housing developers among others.

Land Users want to be near to Georgetown or on the Coast. The Plan

identifies land based on characteristics for various uses and conflicts can

be avoided

The National Land Use Plan presents the Current Situation – maps and

data of resources, what exists, where they exist, and how they are currently

used and managed with information. One of the useful resource maps in

the National Land Use Plan was the Land Capability and Limitation to

Agriculture and National Land Use/ Land Cover Map (See Appendix 3,

Land Use/ Land Cover (LULC) Map)

National Level

Planning The National Land Use Plan brings together and analyses existing

information with the layers of data

Consultations were held in every Region of the country, and comments and

suggestions have been taken into consideration in preparing the final

National Land Use Plan

Seven (7) Regional Land Use Plans at GL&SC have been developed which

are more detailed than the National Plan, and involved more intensive

consultations with communities. Again, this information is incorporated

into the National Land Use Plan

The National Land Use Plan is not an abstract document. It is a non-

prescriptive plan for Guyana which presented analyses for decision/ policy

makers, provided information for everyone to access national data and can

be accessed on www.lands.gov.gy

Information

analysed for

presentation in

the National

Land Use Plan

The National Land Use Plan mainly used existing information from

credible sources, such as the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) and

Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and other Agencies

Spatial information – that is, information related to location and area stored

in a Geographic Information System (GIS). As it relates to analysis of the

information, different themes or layers provided location information that

informed the content of the Plan. Such as, where investors or the public

can find available land, available land suitable for agriculture, proposed

transportation networks, proposed areas for development options

Some key

findings

98% of Guyana is still under natural vegetation. The impact of humans is

minimal away from the coast

88% of the population lives on the coastal plain. Poverty is highest in

http://www.lands.gov.gy/


63

interior areas

Forests cover over 88% of Guyana; deforestation is only 0.06% per year,

mostly due to mining

37-42% of Guyana has no land use claim on it and is ‘available’; of this

available land, 88% is forested. (See Appendix 3 Land Availability

Map)However, there is land pressure on the coastal plain, but this could be

relieved by continuous enforcement of land lease policies

Key current land uses are forestry leases (33% of Guyana), mineral

prospecting leases (19%), titled Amerindian areas (15%) protected areas

(8%), GL&SC leases (2.5%), and mining leases (2%). Mining and forestry

leases frequently overlap, causing conflicts

There are about 3.3 million hectares of good (Class I & II) agricultural

land. Beyond the coastal plain, this is concentrated in Regions 1, 6, 7 and

10. About 79% of this agricultural land is currently forested

Mining and agriculture are much more profitable per hectare than forestry

and other uses

Hydropower potential is high, with 67 potential sites identified. Guyana’s

current energy demand (about 160 MW) is less than 5% of potential

hydropower production (4 to 7 GW), offering opportunities for export

Output of the

National Land

Use Plan:

Development

Options for

Guyana

Land Use options overlap in that they use the same areas of land. Four key

areas, or ‘hotspots’, where competing land uses are particularly severe

and/or provide transport links and/or power sources, were identified and

are shown on the map (See Appendix 3, Development Options Map)

Mathews Ridge/ Port Kaituma, with high potential for forestry, mining and

agriculture. The constraints are access and power. Access could be

developed from Aurora through Kokerite to Mathews Ridge, and power

generation if the Eclipse Falls Hydropower (4 Megawatts) is developed

Bartica- Linden, with its forestry and mining uses, has potential for

agriculture, especially because of its position as a centre linking areas of

production to transport links and coastal port(s). Mined out land around

Linden could be developed for industry and export processing

Intermediate Savannahs - Canje Basin, has potential for agriculture,

livestock and plantation forestry or biofuels, coupled with an expansion in

bauxite mining. Development will require linkages with processing

centres, such as Linden and export ports such as New Amsterdam, and

potentially with Venezuela and Suriname. The Tiger Hill (15MW)

hydropower site on the Demerara River could power agro-processing

industries

North Rupununi- Savannahs area is suitable for large-scale farming

(requiring high capital costs), livestock rearing, and plantation forestry.

There is easy market access to northern Brazil or to Georgetown and New

Amsterdam as roads are developed. The area also has potential oil

deposits. The area is important with potential for conservation and


64

tourism. Potential road developments, providing connections to all parts of

the country, the development hotspots, potential hydropower sites, tourist

areas, and export points were prepared

Methodology

The analysis of information and data gathered was undertaken in the knowledge that the output

of the NLUP would be a series of development options both nationally and for different areas of

the country. The evaluation of development options was undertaken following the assessment of

the current situation, the identification of problems and an evaluation of options guided by an

analysis of sectoral opportunities and constraints while keeping in mind the issues raised by local

land users in the stakeholder discussions within a framework of government policies and

strategies.

Consultations for land use planning were of two types; institutional and community stakeholder

consultations. The institutional consultations were undertaken mainly in Georgetown and

followed the pattern of an initial consultation to introduce the aims of the Project followed by a

longer consultation to gather information, discuss issues and obtain any available data. Other

institutional consultations were also conducted in easily accessible Regions and during the

course of a country-wide field trip in September 2011.The majority of institutional consultations

were undertaken between February and September 2011 although follow-up consultations

continued until the end of the Project when the need arose.

Community stakeholder consultations were undertaken in each Region of the country between

February and May 2012. The aim of these consultations was to gain an insight into what the

regional land use and planning issues were so that these could serve as a guide at the strategic

level of the national land use plan. Participants for the consultations varied among Regions but

usually included representatives of National Democratic Councils (NDCs) (or Community

Development Councils in the case of Region 10), Water Users Association, Co-ops and land

users such as rice, cash crop and livestock farmers, aquaculture operators and the like. In regions

with Amerindian Areas, Toshaos and other Amerindian representatives were invited. In Regions

where municipalities existed, the relevant representatives were invited. Regional representatives

of major land use agencies such as GFC, GGMC and GL&SC were also invited.

.

3.5.5.4 Forestry

Forest lands occupy about 18.3million ha, some 87% of the total land area of the country. Of this,

12.8 million ha (74%) is State Forest land (GFC Forestry Policy Statement, 2011). The utilisation of


65

this vast resource has implications for sustainable land and resource management. In the forestry

sector, the GoG has recognized the importance of establishing sustainable harvesting techniques

and guidelines. The Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) has produced a National Forest Policy

Statement (1997) and a Code of Practice for Timber Harvesting that outline sustainable use of

timber and major non-timber forest products. Several proposals are also included in the National

Development Strategy -2001-2010 (NDS) that promote forest conservation. Apart from the

above initiatives, the GFC is engaged in a forest zonation process, which could have implications

for land-use planning in Guyana. A National Forest Plan has been prepared and endorsed at the

Agency level. The forestry sector is increasingly challenged by the scarcity of traditional

commercial species, poor production planning and harvesting methods, insufficient monitoring,

and perhaps most significant, the threat to the forest resources and ecosystems from small scale

mining activities (MRVS 2014).

3.5.5.5 Agriculture

Agriculture is a major pivot of the economy of Guyana. Ninety-five percent of Guyana’s

agricultural activities are concentrated on the coast with the sector contributing as much as

118149 Million Guyana Dollars to the GDP (Bank of Guyana Report, 2014) and is boasted as

one of the main employers in Guyana with the Guyana Sugar Corporation being the largest

employer in Guyana). The threat as a consequence of flooding and drought cannot be

overemphasised. At present there are efforts to diversify the agriculture sector to introduce non-

traditional crops as well as improved technology and land management practices. It is the most

dominant activity on the coastal zone because of its favourable soil and climate for lowland

crops such as sugar cane, rice, and vegetables. A fairly comprehensive soil survey of Guyana

was completed in the 1960’s through a joint effort of the GoG and the Food and Agriculture

Organization (FAO). In recent times, however, there has been a call for agricultural expansion

and diversification in the hinterland.

3.5.5.6 Mining

Mining is the sector which is said to contribute significantly to environmental impacts and land

degradation, especially in the hinterland. Gold and diamond mining activities have been on-

going in Guyana for more than 100 years and has evolved over the years with the introduction of

improved technologies which are permitting larger operations and greater area coverage with

consequential adverse environmental implications. Mining essentially involves the removal of

vegetation and topsoil so that the underlying deposits can be mined. This represents both a direct

migration and at times loss of biodiversity and destruction of habitats, the cumulative impacts of

which are not yet known though there are increasing reports of adverse downstream impacts on

water quality, aquatic flora and fauna and most importantly local communities. Moreover,

maintaining the health of rivers in the face of increasing pressure from the mining industry is a

principal challenge.


66

To combat these impacts, the government has published a mining policy, and has developed

strict mining laws and regulations. These regulations, referred to as the ‘Mining Amendment

Regulations 2005’ were passed in Parliament in March 2005. Work is ongoing on other

Regulations regarding mining and a Multi-stakeholder Technical Committee, headed by GGMC,

is spearheading these efforts.

Guyana and Canada have collaborated on a project since October 1998 towards environmentally

friendly mining. This has led to an upgrade of the Environmental Unit (functional since January

1996) at GGMC to an Environmental Division which, together with other sections of GGMC,

monitors mining operations. There is also a drive to promote environmental and public

awareness among miners and stakeholders. Furthermore, large-scale mining operations, those

which use cyanide in their operations, and those in sensitive areas have long had the requirement

of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) to be conducted. Mining companies are required

through their permits to observe the prescribed environmental guidelines as set out in the

Regulations. In addition, there are ongoing activities by the GGMC to register all dredges and

mining activities.

3.5.5.7 Wildlife

Currently, there is no wildlife policy for Guyana but the Government has been consistently

taking steps to adequately manage this resource. There is a Wildlife Conservation and

Management bill to be tabled in Parliament in 2016, which will assist the Wildlife Management

Authority to better manage the resource. Access to genetic material and research on wildlife has

been regularized and specific guidelines such as the species protection regulations have to be

followed. The Species Protection Regulations (1999) have been enacted to regulate the wildlife

trade and Guyana is a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This Convention seeks to protect endangered species from

over-exploitation by tightly controlling trade in live or dead animal parts through a system of

permits.

For management of the Wildlife Trade, the Wildlife Management Authority and a Wildlife

Scientific Authority are responsible for setting quotas, closed seasons, providing licenses to

exporters and generally regulating the Wildlife Trade of the country. Guyana has indicated its

desire to work with Suriname to combat smuggling and illegal trade in wildlife. There are also

Wildlife Conservation and Management Regulations that look holistically at wildlife resource

management in Guyana. These regulations are currently the subject of national consultations.


67

3.5.5.8 Fisheries

The fisheries sector of Guyana is comprised of three primary components: marine fisheries,

inland fisheries and aquaculture. Most of the marine fishing occurs in the shallow waters of the

continental shelf. Freshwater or inland fishing is done in rivers, creeks, lakes, reservoirs, canals,

flooded fields, and in savannah areas. The development of aquaculture has been slow but two

forms of aquaculture are practiced in the country: traditional extensive brackish water culture

and freshwater pond culture. The Draft Fisheries Bill and associated Draft Aquaculture Bill are

at the final stages of the law-making process. These together, introduce provisions to implement

the Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management

Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas and the Agreement for the Implementation of the

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

3.5.5.9 Tourism

Tourism in Guyana is promising, especially nature based, since the country has large areas of

pristine natural tropical rain forests, natural, cultural and heritage sites, rich biodiversity and

biological resources and a varied ethnic, religious and cultural diversity. The Government

through the Tourism Authority Act in 2003 created the semi-autonomous, Guyana Tourism

Authority. In 1998, an Ecotourism Development Plan was prepared with assistance from the

Organisation of American States (OAS). Aspects are currently being implemented by the

Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA). The National Development Strategy recognizes that

protected areas are essential in the promotion of tourism; “the according of special status to areas

known to possess unique natural characteristics, is fundamental to the development of tourism in

Guyana”. GTA, in collaboration with the Guyana Bureau of Standards has been developing

standards for tour operators, hotels, and interior resorts. In the field of formal education, the

University of Guyana offers a degree and diploma programme in Tourism Studies.

From the above review on national circumstance, it is apparent that Guyana has valuable natural

resources to be utilised for the development of the country and its people. At the same time it

illustrates the range of sectors and stakeholders that are involved in land planning and

management.

Land degradation in Guyana, while perhaps not as visible at this stage, has been increasingly

occurring and the potential exists for it to expand. Apart from the interior forest belt, even within

the coastal zone and adjacent white sands region, forest cover has been lost to activities such as

sand and bauxite mining, agriculture, human settlements, and harvesting for fuel wood and poles.

While these represent the main known contributing factors to land degradation there is still to be

a comprehensive assessment of land use and degradation in Guyana.


68

3.5.5.10 Demographic distribution and socioeconomic information

Generally, the livelihood of people living in or near areas affected by DLDD is often adversely

affected. Under some circumstances, the communities are considered the cause of the very

degradation itself. Often, however, communities living in affected areas are particularly

vulnerable to disturbances to the ecosystems upon which they depend for their livelihoods.

Therefore, it is particularly important to ensure a good understanding of the demographic

distribution in the context of Guyana’s strides towards poverty alleviation and to meet the

broader targets of MDGs and SDGs.

3.5.5.11 Absolute and relative (proportion) numbers of people living

in areas affected by DLDD

(SO1-1).

There is not yet any detailed statistics on the numbers of people and the proportion of Guyana’s

population living in areas affected by DLDD. In Guyana, the majority of its people live in

affected areas (, primarily on or near the coastline. Figure 3 shows that there is a general spatial

overlap between population density and locations identified as being affected by and at high risk

of DLDD. The urban areas are predominantly located along the coast, and approximately 93%

of Guyana’s population lives in urban areas.


69

Figure 3: Areas affected by DLDD


70

3.5.5.12 Socioeconomic data/information of communities/people living in

affected areas

There is not yet any data/information on the relative income, income inequality and poverty

severity. Baseline data and statistics on this would be desirable, in order to be able to monitor

trends and changes in proportions of people living below the formal poverty line in the affected

areas. (SO1-1).

3.5.5.13 Other livelihood aspects of people in affected areas

Table 4 below shows the population data on those using and/or having access to an improved

drinking water source available at the national and regional level Source: 1.) Guyana Water

Inc. (GWI) Customer Information Database 2.) 2013 Preliminary Census Report 3.)

Population Census 2002 - by Regions). (SO1-2).

Table 4: Proportion of population (by region) using an improved drinking water source

for the period 2012-2014

Region Total

Population

Population using an

improved source of

drinking water

source

Proportion of Population using an

improved source of drinking water

source

Region 1 26,941 20,615 0.77

Region 2 46,810 43,255 0.92

Region 3 107416 103,000 0.96

Region 4 313,429 311,002 0.99

Region 5 49,723 46,885 0.94

Region 6 109,431 107,467 0.98

Region 7 20,280 13,881 0.68

Region 8 10,190 6,938 0.68

Region 9 24,212 22,888 0.95

Region 10 39,452 33,790 0.86

Total 747,884 709,721 0.95

Source: GWI 2015

The data shows that the majority of the population has access to improved drinking water.


71

4 ACHIEVEMENTS AND PLANS FOR ADDRESSING DESERTIFICATION,

LAND DEGRADATION AND DROUGHT

The GOG has fully acknowledged the potential socioeconomic impact of DLDD on the country,

including in particular on its economic development.

This chapter describes the efforts which the GOG has embarked on to combat DLDD in Guyana,

and also provides an overview of the continuous plans to adapt to address land degradation.

Approaches applied by the Government of Guyana, and, key results from a range of ecosystems

and sectors, as well as efforts on governance and institutional levels, and finally awareness and

capacity building, are described.

4.1 Guyana’s achievements in addressing Land Degradation and Drought

The key responsibility for leading and coordinating the complex implementation of the NAP

rests with the GL&SC which collaborates with a range of key natural resources and

environmental management institutions in executing this function.

In particular, this level of collaboration occurred through the National Steering Committee

(NSC) of the UNCCD. The NSC has oversight responsibility for the implementation of the

UNCCD activities and comprises the following institutions: (i) GL&SC, (ii) GFC, (iii) Guyana

Geology & Mines Commission (GGMC), (iv) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and (v)

Civil Defence Commission. The Committee provides guidance and advice, as well as, overlooks

the planning of activities related to the preparation of the NAP.

Since 2008, Guyana has made progress to strengthen its environmental policy framework

through the implementation of critical initiatives that directly and indirectly addresses land

degradation issues in key sectors. These include Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy

that provides the overall framework and the national system to monitor, report, and verify

emissions or removal of carbon from the forest. Guyana’s commitment to the Extractive

Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) and the EU-FLEGT are intended to further improve

sustainability and enforcement standards.

In addition, the implementation of Guyana’s Land Use Plan and the finalization of its National

Land Use Policy will further enhance and strengthen the land use policy framework to address

land degradation.

Several synergies and mechanisms emerged during the stakeholder engagement process to

prepare the Aligned NAP and critical among these were (i) inter-agency collaboration, (ii)

sharing of human resources among the key natural resources institutions (to bridge the technical

capacity gap in the short term), (iii) technical assistance, and, (iv) capacity building and training.

The institutional arrangements for Aligned NAP implementation were recognised as critical and


72

over the years a few changes were made to these arrangements. The institutional arrangements

are further elaborated on in Section 7 of this report.

Strengthening of institutional arrangements for natural resources and environmental management

was achieved through the creation of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment

This Ministry was created to facilitate the efforts of Government to continue to focus on

expanding and diversifying the economy on the basis of rational use of Guyana’s natural

resources. The Ministry has the responsibility to coordinate activities in the forestry, mining,

environmental management, wildlife, protected areas, and land use planning sectors. In addition,

the Ministry has overall responsibility for the following institutions: GFC, GGMC, Guyana Gold

Board, GL&SC, EPA, Wildlife Management Authority, National Parks Commission and PAC to

allow for greater coordination among the principal natural resources agencies. MNRE has

prepared a Strategic Plan for the period 2013 - 2018 which outlines measures for improvement in

institutional arrangements and coordination.

The range of institutions involved in land management is complex in Guyana, with GL&SC

being the key institution. The GL&SC is cooperating with GFC and GGMC to integrate all

aspects related to desertification in order to effectively address SLM. There is regular

communication within the institutional architecture to properly combine efforts and mobilize

resources, although it may be possible to improve interactions between these institutions.

The role of each actor involved in land management is clearly identified in the attempt to achieve

maximum cohesion amongst the stakeholders and to ensure that their individual efforts foster

synergistic results. These dynamics could be further strengthened by improving institutional

capacities and mobilizing the resources necessary for roles to be executed effectively.

An important aspect of the responsible institutions is the capacity of their human resource base.

With regard to the GL&SC it would be useful to create a UNCCD National Secretariat and

Coordinating Committee to oversee the implementation of the Aligned NAP.

The existence of a functioning mechanism for dialogue and coordination amongst the relevant

stakeholders is also a keystone for the success of the UNCCD Strategy. This needs to be

strengthened to ensure that there is the required coordination across sectors, among stakeholders

involved in the task of combating desertification.

Cross sectoral committees such as the Land Reclamation Committee and the Mangrove Action

Committee are also being created to implement specific activities within the sector. Non-

Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Community Based Organisations (CBOs) are also

actively participating and contributing, thus enhancing the institutional capacity.

4.2 Protocol for Drought Early Warning System


73

A Drought Early Warning System (DEWS) is a system for monitoring drought to provide timely

information for decision makers to take measures to mitigate the impact. (Protocol for Drought

Early Warning System, 2015).The success of a DEWS depends eighty percent on the capacity of

the country to detect a drought several months in advance, allowing the dissemination of the

news and preparedness to mitigate the effects. The early warning component of a drought plan is

essential because it provides the foundation on which timely decisions can be made by decision

makers at all levels.

A drought protocol has three components: monitoring and early warning; risk assessment; and

mitigation and response. The monitoring and early warning component of a drought plan is

essential because it provides the foundation on which timely decisions can be made by decision

makers at all levels.

Figure 4: Components of a drought protocol

The DEWS should be able to detect emergence of rainfall deficits which is normally the best

indicator of approaching drought period. Effective drought early warning requires the adoption

of a protocol that includes the application of tools and indices in monitoring and forecasting and

evaluation of potential impacts in specific sectors. It includes mechanisms and procedures for the

collection and analysis of data and dissemination of the early warning messages on drought

onset, progression, end, and severity to a broad group of users in a timely manner so that it can

be applied in decision making.

Sector heads and CDC can issue early warning information and this is also provided for in the

EWS framework (CDC 2013). This has the potential to cause confusion among the public which

can build mistrust. However, it is important that the EW information be issued by only a single

national agency with the requisite political authority (UNISDR 2006, United Nations 2006) such

as the CDC. This is essential for public confidence if decision-makers and other recipients are to

trust an EWS and act on the information received (Bailey 2013).

Much of the weather information available is for short periods and best suited for monitoring

meteorological drought. However, for a functional DEWS, seasonal forecasts with typically three

Monitoring and Early Warning

Risk Assessment

Mitigation and Response


74

month lead period are an essential addition. Integrating weather/climate information with data

and information collected by other agencies allows for better monitoring of the occurrence of the

other types of drought and their likely impact. This is useful for decision making on appropriate

mitigation measures.

The EWS framework for Guyana is based on a multi-hazard approach and provides for

participation of the institutions required for functioning of the DEWS. However, improvement is

needed in sector collaboration and coordination. Collaboration is also necessary with

neighbouring countries and regional institutions such as Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and

Hydrology (CIMH) to benefit from technical support in terms of training, equipment, research,

investigations, and the provision of related specialised services and advice(Protocol for Drought

Early Warning System, 2015).

Figure 5: A Simple Model for the DEWS Protocol for Guyana

Source: Protocol for Drought Early Warning System, 2015


75

The goal of the DEWS protocol is to allow the authorities to forecast well in advance, prolonged

drought and take preventive measures to reduce or mitigate the impacts. The model does not

have the sophistication of the models used in countries more advanced than Guyana in terms of

financial or human resources, but it has the virtue of being able to be implemented immediately,

with very low cost and with high reliability.

The DEWS is relatively new to the Guyanese population and as such, there is need to be as clear

and detailed as possible on every aspect of it. The main purpose of having a DEWS is to protect

lives and livelihoods from droughts, minimizing negative impacts on economy and environment.

An effective DEWS constitutes one of the key elements of any disaster reduction approach.

Devising measures to help the citizens of Guyana to be previously informed about the coming

drought and adjust through adaptations efforts is a foundational concept.

Figure 6 shows actions to be taken before the onset of the drought.


76

Figure 6: Actions to be taken befor the onset of a drought

CDC should develop a Drought Monitoring Plan for monitoring

climate and water supplies and identify potential shortfalls. This will

enable the Government to assess the mitigation measures and, if

necessary, modify the actions to reduce the impacts.

THE DROUGHT IS COMING

Assess population vulnerability to drought,

such as reduced crop yields, livestock losses

and reservoir depletion and draw up a

“vulnerability analysis”.

Summon all stakeholders to discuss the

potential harm due to the drought and

preventive and mitigation measures to be

implemented.

CDC shall prepare public advisories to be

disseminated through the various

communication means.

A Drought Mitigation Plan should be drawn up,

accessible and easy to interpret, establishing a

clear set of operating guidelines to govern the

prevention, mitigation and management of drought

and its impacts.

The Drought Committee decides whether the

evidence justifies the dissemination of

warnings to the country. If “Yes”, declares a

“State of Drought”.

The Hydrometeorological Service receives

communications from overseas institutions

warning on the possibility of drought in the

coming months. Reports to the Drought

Committee.

Guyana Hydrometeorological Service receives

additional equipment (one laptop, internet connection,

Office software or similar).

Two technicians from Guyana

Hydrometeorological Service receive, abroad,

training to interpret the information on

droughts received from foreigner partners.

Guyana Government signs a cooperation

agreement with foreigner services specialized

in early drought forecasts based on El Niño,

PDO and the ITCZ analysis.

CDC assembles a list with email addresses

and phone numbers of all stakeholders

potentially affected by a drought.

The Government establishes a

Drought Committee, with a member

of the CDC (Civil Defence

Commission) as chairperson.

BEFORE THE DROUGHT

Guyana Hydrometeorological Service is the focal point to receive early drought warning from

abroad.


77

The Drought Committee

A Drought Committee should be formed, whose function is to receive the Hydrometeorological

Service warnings about possible droughts and decide whether the evidence justifies the

dissemination of warnings to the country. It is suggested that the Committee’s chairperson

should be a member of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), because it is the agency most

involved with natural disasters.

The committee should include, at minimum, representatives of the following agencies:

o Hydrometeorological Service (monitoring & warning);

o Government Information Agency (GINA) (communication);

o Civil Defence Commission (CDC) (communication, dissemination, preparedness &

response);

o Guyana Lands & Surveys Commission (GL&SC) (knowledge);

o National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) (knowledge);

o Sea and River Defence Department (SRDD) (knowledge);

o Guyana Bureau of Statistics(knowledge);

o Guyana Red Cross(knowledge and skills);

o Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (knowledge)

The Drought is Coming

The Hydrometeorological Service has the mandate to advise policy makers of any drought which

has occurred or which is likely to occur. After the Hydrometeorological Service receives two

communications from overseas institutions warning or the usual source on the possibility of

drought in the coming months, it should report the fact to the Drought Committee. The

Committee should adopt a workable definition of drought that could be used to phase in and

phase out levels of actions in response to drought.

When a meteorological drought is detected, before a drought period is declared, the Committee

should, in a meeting, analyze the situation, based essentially on the water storage levels in some

reservoirs, particularly multi-purpose reservoirs and the imbalance between water availability

and water demand prediction.

If the decision of the Committee is for the presence of a drought, this Committee shall propose to

the Government to declare a “State of Potential Drought” and a Drought Mitigation Plan should

be drawn up. The Committee must make its information accessible and easy to interpret, and it

must deliver a clear, consistent message to decision makers so that they can act on this

information.

Dissemination of the Information

People need to be warned of coming drought as soon as it is detected, but often are not.

Information needs to reach people in time for them to use it in making decisions. In establishing


78

information channels, the Drought Committee needs to consider when people need various kinds

of information.

Based on the information received and the approval of the Office of the President, the Civil

Defence Commission (CDC) shall prepare public advisories to be disseminated through the

various communication means: print, radio, television, mobiles, internet, etc.

As the dissemination about drought needs a skillful entity who knows how to interact with the

population, it is suggested that the dissemination of the drought forecast be done by the CDC, in

coordination with the GINA. It is important to highlight that one, and only one body should be

responsible for the dissemination of drought warnings to other stakeholders.

The CDC shall assemble a list with email addresses and phone numbers of all entities, from the

government and civil society, which have a stake in programs for the mitigation of the effects of

the drought. When a State of Drought is declared, all entities on the list will be informed by

telephone, email, text, WhatsApp and other media about the fact. All stakeholders shall be

informed. The press, NGOs and social networks should be part of the list of entities that will

receive the alert.

Each stakeholder should have a focal point, whose function will be to receive and internally

disseminate the information received from CDC within his/her organization. As there is no

formal system to determine whether advisories were actually received by the general population,

the messages should be accompanied by a warning such as "if you do not reply that you have

received this message, your organization will be disconnected from the drought forecasting

system".Only high probability of droughts messages should be publicly disseminated. The extent

of the risk is usually determined by meetings among the relevant agencies.

Although low and medium probability messages are generally avoided, as there are no existing

criteria for the determination of the magnitude of a particular risk, it is recommended that these

low and medium probability messages be disseminated, at least, within the governmental

institutions, at least.

The CDC is already making progress in incrementing the use of computer technologies for

communications, but an Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) policy and

stronger human capacities are needed.

The Role of the Civil Defence Commission

The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) plays the lead role in national disaster preparedness and

response. CDC chairs the National Disaster Platform which has the participation of all key

agencies and stakeholders. At the local level there are ten (10) Regional Democratic Councils

(RDCs) that are responsible for preparing their respective disaster preparedness and response

plans under the supervision of the CDC. The preparedness and response plans of the RDCs also

include the community-level (Neighborhood Democratic Councils).

As it is a technical entity which deals more closely with droughts, and for the sake of speed


79

dissemination, it is recommended that for a DEWS, the CDC be the authorizing body for issuing

the warning, which contradicts with the current national EWS Protocol. CDC has a small staff

base, however, with training and more resources it can be the leader on information on drought

forecast. It is recommended that the CDC improves the Multi-hazard EWS, which has little

mention of drought, through the adoption of this proposed DEWS.

Summoning all Stakeholders

In practical terms, after an alert of possible drought is released, meetings with all stakeholders

should be summoned to discuss the potential harm due to the drought and preventive and

mitigation measures to be implemented. The meetings should be held in the most practical venue

e.g. the capital, and should have the participation of representative leaders of various economic

and social sectors. The purpose of the meetings is to inform about the possibility of a new

drought, get reports about the losses suffered in previous droughts and ask for suggestions on

how to mitigate the impacts of the next drought. Stakeholders should include government

agencies, businessmen's and farmers' associations, NGOs, social movements, representatives of

the nine Regions and municipalities, among others.

Vulnerability Analysis

Little attention has been given to preparedness, mitigation, and prediction/early warning actions

(i.e., risk management) that could reduce future impacts and lessen the need for government

intervention in the future. Because of this emphasis on crisis management, society has generally

moved from one disaster to another with little, if any, reduction in risk. In fact, many response

measures instituted by governments, international organizations, and donors have actually

increased vulnerability by increasing dependency on internal or external assistance.

After the summoning of stakeholders, the CDC should have sufficient data to perform a

vulnerability analysis. The CDC, along with the other entities of the National Government shall

draw up a “vulnerability analysis”, the result of which will guide the development of preventive

and mitigating measures to deal with the coming drought. The purpose of vulnerability analysis

is to provide government with an effective and systematic means of assessing drought impacts,

developing mitigation actions and programs to reduce risk in advance of drought, and developing

response options that minimize economic stress, environmental losses, and social hardships

during drought.

The vulnerability analysis provides a framework for identifying the human, social, economic,

political, physical, and environmental causes of drought impacts. It directs attention to the

underlying causes of vulnerability rather than to its result. Hence, a vulnerability analysis should

begin by asking why significant impacts have occurred (or why they might occur). It is important

to realize that a combination of factors (e.g., environmental, economic, and social factors) or

underlying causes (e.g., livelihoods at risk, incentive preferences, and inappropriate crops) might

produce a given event. The government team responsible for the vulnerability analysis should


80

define the scope of the analysis, the most drought-prone areas and most vulnerable economic and

social sectors.

The Drought Mitigation and Monitoring Plan

The need for the development of a drought protocol and mitigation plan is vital for the

implementation of an effective DEWS. Timely forecasting, preparedness and mitigation are

central components of disaster risk reduction, and are more important than relying solely on ad-

hoc emergency response measures. A combination of top-down and bottom-up approaches is

required for development and implementation of effective preparedness and mitigation measures;

After the vulnerability analysis, coordinated by the CDC and other sectors of the Government, a

“Drought Mitigating Plan” should be drafted. This is not a fixed plan, but a conglomerate of

actions to be taken and discussed with stakeholders and authorities.

The Drought Mitigation Plan (DMP) should establish a clear set of principles or operating

guidelines to govern the prevention, mitigation and management of drought and its impacts as

well as the development of a preparedness plan that lays out a strategy to achieve these

objectives.

The DMP shall specify the respective roles of the national and the regionals government, local

communities and land users, and the resources available and required to implement appropriate

drought risk reduction activities (Protocol for Drought Early Warning System, 2015).

4.3 Stakeholder Engagement

A comprehensive strategy and approach for stakeholder engagement to ensure that the Aligned

NAP is inclusive of relevant stakeholders will be developed, so that CSOs, NGOs and STIs can

increasingly be engaged in the implementation of DLDD projects/programmes, with specific

targets. This will further highlight the need for a National Communication Strategy (See

recommendations 1 and 2 in Table 10 of this report - Assessment of Operational Objectives and

Expected Outcomes against Guyana’s NAP).

4.4 Education/training, and awareness

(Consolidated-OO-3).

This section provides an overview of approaches and activities to enhance DLDD-related

education and training. Activities under this programme area are intended to promote public

education and public awareness and increasing capacities to ensure implementation of the NAP.


81

Actions in the past have included:

A Gap Analyses was conducted as a part of the National Capacity Self-

Assessment(NCSA) Strategy and Action Plan (see section 4.11on “Capacity Building” in

this report) and a brochure was designed to increase awareness of the Focal Point to the

UNCCD. The NCSA Strategy and Action Plan also included a skills assessment with

specific focus on the UNCCD.

The SLM Project increased awareness of SLM through consultation workshops, training,

distribution of reports, etc. Efforts were also made to have SLM integrated into the school

curriculum, including the preparation of a Teachers Kit and a Training Video.

The use of existing tools to promote SLM is being utilized. This includes the usage of the

GL&SC website, publishing of materials by the EPA on land degradation and the

UNCCD and the creation and distribution of brochures which report on activities within

the mining sector by GGMC. GFC also promotes SLM through sustainable resource use

on its website, and through brochures and posters.

Some training was conducted at the regional and local levels including Disaster Risk

Management. NGOs and Community Based Organisations (CBOs) involved in natural

resources and conservation activities were engaged in activities relating to the promotion

of SLM.

Hinterland communities are from time to time, educated on sustainable use of the forests

to address issues of forest fires and conservation practices through the efforts of the GFC

and NGOs/CBOs. In addition, Amerindian communities receive on an annual basis

Presidential Grants for community development projects as well as financing from the

Ministry of Amerindian Affairs for their community development projects (CDPs).

Further, forested Amerindian Villages have the option of op-in under the low carbon

development strategy which would see those communities receiving monies to not

harvest forest.

Specific training initiatives were conducted and programmes available to promote SLM.

This included training workshops conducted by the SLM Project which covered a wide

range of SLM areas including Land Degradation Assessment in Drylands Methodology,

EWS, Watershed Management, Resource Valuation and Teachers Training Kit. Capacity

was developed in the areas of national land use planning, updating of the regional land

use methodology and spatial planning. GIS Training was also completed by the Land Use

Policy and Planning Section, GL&SC.

Programmes offered by the University of Guyana cover some of the target areas and

contribute to SLM. These include the Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Degree in

Environmental Sciences, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Degree in Geography, and

Postgraduate Diploma/Master of Science (MSc) Degree in Environmental Management.

The Geography programme includes Land Use Planning, GIS, Physical Geography, Land

Evaluation and Urban and Regional Planning. Two specialisation streams are offered at

the University in Natural Resources Management and Climate Change and Disaster

Management in programmes offered by the Faculties of Agriculture and Forestry,

Technology and Natural Sciences.

Specialized training courses for the forestry and mining sectors are offered by the

Forestry Training Centre Inc. and the Guyana Mining School and Training Centre Inc.


82

A Climate Change Manual was prepared and distributed by Conservation International

and Iwokrama and training of trainers commenced.

Other training conducted by NGOs including the World Wildlife Fund (WWF),

Iwokrama, Conservation International (CI), and other institutions such as Bina Hill

Institute, contributes to SLM.

A National Communication Strategy should be developed to facilitate more effective

mechanisms to reach and interact with relevant stakeholders on land degradation and other

related environmental issues (See recommendations 1 and 2 in Table 10 of this report -

Assessment of Operational Objectives and Expected Outcomes against Guyana’s NAP).

4.5 Cross-sectoral institutional mechanisms for national coordination and

mainstreaming.

Improving the current coordination structure is key for Guyana, to facilitate a viable mechanism

for managing the stakeholder dialogue in land management. The ability of the coordinating

mechanism to develop cooperation across all sectors in government, communities, non-

governmental organizations, and landowners in the decision making process is a vital goal of the

Convention.

The continuous process for the implementation of the UNCCD and mainstreaming of SLM

requires strong institutional capacities across sectors (forestry, agriculture, mining, etc.). Since

SLM requires the cooperation of several institutions, the responsibilities have a tendency to

overlap across sectors. For Guyana, there lies a challenge in achieving cohesion amongst the

varying institutions (GL&SC, GGMC and GFC) and engaging the participants under the

convergent platform of combating desertification and sustainable land management. The

coordination mechanism should be responsible for unifying the sectors but there is still a need

for a strong institutional architecture for implementing the activities.

Institutional mechanisms which can serve to enhance integration amongst stakeholders and

eliminate overlaps and conflicts, include the creation of task forces, committees and/or boards as

appropriate. Further, as desertification, land degradation and drought are closely linked, and

drought severity and frequency are increasing, a sub-working group or special taskforce need to

be established as part of the Agricultural Sector Working Group (see recommendation 4 in Table

10 of this report - Assessment of Operational Objectives and Expected Outcomes against

Guyana’s NAP).

4.6 Knowledge sharing

The development of a knowledge sharing system with the specific purpose of addressing and

enhancing efforts to combat DLDD is a high priority for the Cooperative Republic of Guyana


83

(CRG). This will assist and further enhance the efforts already undertaken by the NSC and the

National Focal Point for the UNCCD.

4.7 Integration and alignment with the National Development Strategy and

Plan, and relevant sectoral plans and policies

The Aligned NAP must be integrated into and aligned with Guyana’s National Development

Strategy and Plan and the relevant sectoral plans and policies in order to effectively combat

National DLDD.

Key relevant sector agencies have participated in the development of the Aligned NAP through

their membership on the National Coordinating Board.

In addition, the broader public will be impacted through the broader mainstreaming efforts of

DLDD.

4.8 Regional integration and collaboration

Regional collaboration initiatives outlined in the Aligned NAP include linkages and participation

in the Regional Action Programme and participation in regional initiatives such as EWS and

Information Network for land management. Actions undertaken include linkages with the

Regional Action Programme occur through participation in training and reporting. There is also

other participation in the Regional Action Programme when participation is required. The

Hydrometeorological Department has attended one regional initiative on EWS in Latin America.

Regional support is available through an NGO and Caribbean Network for Integrated Rural

Development (CNIRD). CNIRD is a NGO originating in Trinidad and Tobago and is aimed at

supporting regional partnership to realize UNCCD implementation and support training of

Caribbean member countries.

Guyana is part of the Caribbean Planning for Adaptation to Climate Change (CPACC) project.

The CPACC is a Global Environment (GEF) funded project being implemented in Caribbean

countries by the Organisation of American States (OAS). CPACC is supporting Caribbean

countries to cope with the potential adverse effects of global climate change, particularly sea

level rise in coastal areas, through vulnerability assessment, adaptation planning and capacity

building. CPACC has come to an end and the next phase, the Mainstreaming for Adaptation to

Climate Change (MACC) is expected to commence with World Bank support. In the interim,

through CIDA support, an Adaptation to Climate Change in the Caribbean (ACCC) project is

underway to continue activities. Under the CPACC initiative, Guyana was able to conduct a

socio-economic assessment of sea-level rise as part of a wider vulnerability assessment and

developed a Climate Change Adaptation Policy and Implementation Strategy for coastal and

low-lying areas.


84

4.9 Sustainable development

A key programme area of the Aligned NAP is the need for sustainable management of natural

resources, drainage basins and watersheds. Actions in this regard include promote and support

sustainable management in forest and mining, restoration and protection of biodiversity and

watersheds conduct ground and surface water situation analysis and strengthen and expand the

drainage and irrigation system. Progress on activities under this programme area are described in

the following sections.

The GFC/DNRE is currently collaborating with the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs and United

Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on the Amerindian Land Titling Project which is an

initiative of the Government of Guyana designed to advance the process of titling Amerindian

communities, demarcating Amerindian Villages and demarcating extensions to Amerindian

villages. The project seeks to enable Amerindians to secure their lands and natural resources with

a view towards sustainable social and economic development. It is expected that titling of

communities will strengthen land tenure security and the expansion of the asset base of

Amerindians, enabling improved long term planning for their future development. It is also

expected to enhance the opportunities for villages to op-in to the REDD+ and LCDS.

4.9.5 Enhancing livelihoods and the socioeconomic benefit of

combating land degradation

The NAP included actions to contribute to the alleviation of poverty and improving the quality of

life through identifying and implementing alternative livelihoods initiatives and diversifying

agriculture practice with value adding and promote efficient multiple land use. Some specific

actions in this regard include:

Alternative livelihoods were identified and initiatives are being implemented. These

include:

Alternative livelihood in mangrove areas such as tourism, bee keeping, etc., through the

Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project.

Community Based Tourism, especially in Amerindian communities such as Surama and

those of the North Rupununi.

Promotion of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs)

The GEF Smalls Grant Project is also promoting alternative/sustainable livelihoods by

providing funding for projects such as savannah farming instead of shifting cultivation

and planting crops in the savannah instead of clearing forests


85

Promoting farming via hydroponics and traditional methods in mining areas such as in

Mahdia targeting the miners and the Mahdia Secondary School Students.

Several NGOs and CBOs are involved in activities promoting alternative and sustainable

livelihoods. These include the North Rupununi District Development Board, the Konashen

Community, South Central People’s Development Association, Kanuku Mountain Community

Representative Group, Village Mangrove Action Committees, etc.

The Amerindian Development Fund, which was established under the LCDS, aims to provide

support for the socio-economic and environmental development of Amerindian communities and

villages through community development projects. 160 communities are to benefit from this

project.

Agricultural diversity is being pursued and much emphasis is placed on this in the National

Agriculture Strategy, for both crop and livestock. In addition, agro-processing and value-added is

being pursued to become a new growth pole for agriculture in the Agriculture Vision 2020. A

Crop Development Unit was established at the National Agriculture Research and Extension

Institute (NAREI) to assist with crop development and a Livestock Development Unit

established at the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) to assist with the livestock

industry.

4.9.6 Food security and sustainable agriculture

The NAP outlines a number of actions for achieving food security and sustainable development

and management of agriculture. Several initiatives are being undertaken in these areas through

the work of several agencies under the Ministry of Agriculture and other institutions, including

NGOs. Some of these actions are outlined below:

Agricultural research is being conducted by institutions within the Ministry of Agriculture

including the NAREI, the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), etc. There has been

significant progress in this regard, for example, the GRDB has been producing newer and

improved varieties of rice to be cultivated, while promoting new techniques and measures to aid

with improved crop management and increased productivity. GGMC is also aiding in

agricultural research by promoting the growth of vegetables via hydroponics in Mahdia for the

students of the Mahdia Secondary School.

The Ministry of Agriculture’s National Strategy for Agriculture in Guyana focuses on a wide

range of activities including the diversification of agriculture. Initiatives include the promotion

of other crops in the coastal areas and large scale agricultural development in the savannah

regions. There is the Agricultural Diversification Programme (ADP) which aims to promote

diversification in the agriculture sector through non-traditional crops and other means. It is a

three-year project that should increase export competitiveness and employment in the

fruits/vegetables and tilapia aquaculture sectors. Downstream processing of agricultural produce

is also occurring through processing and packaging plants.


86

GL&SC continues to contribute to expanding agricultural production by opening up new areas

for leasing. These include areas in the Canje Basin and in the Intermediate and Rupununi

Savannahs. Coastal areas are also being considered, such as those under the Aurora Land

Development Project.

Expanded community-based agriculture initiatives are being promoted and implemented such as

initiatives by Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), Canadian

International Development Agency (CIDA), organic cocoa, etc.

The importance of soil health is being recognized, which will contribute to the promotion of soil

conservation and management. Soil health is a main priority area in the National Agriculture

Strategy which states that it should promoted through the prudent utilization of biological,

chemical and physical methods in an eco-system agronomic approach. The Strategy states that

Guyana will ensure implementation of affordable and practical Integrated Soil Management

which will emphasize the management of nutrient flows, but will not ignore other important

aspects of soil health, such as maintaining organic matter content, soil structure and soil

biodiversity. Some agricultural activities, such as those practiced by Guyana Sugar Corporation

(GUYSUCO), already integrates land management.

4.9.7 Sustainable Forest Management, REDD+, MRVS/VPA, EU

FLEGT, LCDS

Several initiatives are being undertaken to promote sustainable management in the forestry

sector. The forest sector is highly regulated to ensure that activities do not contribute to

significant forest loss and impact biological resources. The GFC has implemented several

measures to ensure Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) of state forest. Some of these

measures are as follows:

Developed principles, policies and guidelines for improved forest management and

timber harvesting practices. This is reflected in the National Forest Plan and the Forest

Act and management and operational guidelines.

Forest concessionaires are required to obtain Environmental Authorisation from the EPA

and prepare Forest Management and Annual Operational Plans for their operations.

Larger concessionaires are required to conduct Environmental and Social Impact

Assessments and prepare Environmental Management Plans. All large concessions must

allocate 4.5% of the total area to biodiversity conservation during the life of the

concession.

Embraced the principles of Reduced Impact Logging and has developed a Code of

Practice for Timber Harvesting which outlines measures for compliance by operators

within the sector.

Logging activities must be conducted by a cycle ranging from 40-60 years and harvesting

is done only in approved blocks. There is an annual allowable cut for each concession.


87

Training in Reduced Impact Logging and other measure are being provided through the

Forestry Training Centre Inc. GFC monitors each operation to ensure compliance with

the required measures.

Guyana has embraced the REDD+ framework at a national scale and through this

mechanism the country is consistently developing its efforts to reduce deforestation and

forest degradation and in particular through the application of sustainable forests

management.

A national system to monitor [measure], report and verify emissions or removals of

carbon from the forest sector was developed by the GFC and is currently being

implemented. The MRVS provides the basis for reporting in accordance with the

principles and procedures agreed to by GoG in relation to reducing emissions from

deforestation and forest degradation.

Strong forest governance that exemplifies the principles of sustainable forest management, forest

legality, and sustainable development of forest resources, and concurrently balances the social,

economic and environmental dimensions, has been a top priority for the Government of Guyana

(GoG) and the Delegation of European Union. As part of executing this common mandate,

Guyana and the EU are currently negotiating a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) under

the existing EU FLEGT Action Plan with the objective of concluding negotiations by 2016.

Guyana and the EU anticipate that the conclusion and effective implementation of the VPA will

contribute to the sustainable management of Guyana's forests, rural employment and economic

development. A VPA will be legally binding on both parties once negotiations are completed and

the agreement is concluded. When fully operational, the system will provide the assurance to the

EU buyers that Guyana's timber products were legally sourced (Joint statement on a Voluntary

Partnership Agreement (VPA) on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT)

between Guyana and the European Union, Georgetown, 2012.

http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/guyana/documents/press_corner/euguyanaflegt.pdf)

In addition to the MRVS and the VPA there are other forest governance initiatives being pursued

under the LCDS which are intended to improve sustainability and enforcement of standards to

prevent environmental degradation and excessive forest loss. Some of these measures include the

country’s commitment to the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative, Independent Forest

Monitoring and preparation of a NLUP. Other measures include institutional strengthening and

capacity building of regulatory agencies in the natural resources sector.

Further, in 2009, the Governments of Guyana and Norway signed a Memorandum of

Understanding which set out how the two countries will “work together to provide the world

with a relevant, replicable model for how REDD-plus can align the development objectives of

forest countries with the world’s need to combat climate change.” This agreement has resulted in

significant steps being undertaken to ensure deforestation is reduced and degraded forest land

restored, some of which are described above.

4.9.8 Mining and land reclamation/restoration

In the mining areas, the focus is on reclamation of previously mined out areas while ensuring

current mining practices include mine rehabilitations. There are abandoned mining areas across

http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/guyana/documents/press_corner/euguyanaflegt.pdf


88

Guyana which require some form of reclamation and restoration. In the past, efforts were made

to reclaim some of these sites as pilot projects. The Government now plans to intensify these

efforts through a Land Reclamation Project which is focused solely on reclamation of mined out

areas. The initiative will support the country’s commitment to REDD+ and sustainable forestry

management and the implementation of the LCDS. A Land Reclamation Committee was recently

established to focus on reclaiming of areas degraded by mining activities.

Some reclamation efforts to date include accessing the mined-out pits in Region Seven (Cuyuni-

Mazaruni) and Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and conducting studies and surveys in the most

recent mined-out areas while replanting trees and other protective vegetation in the old mined-

out areas. These exercises, which are primarily carried out by the GGMC, had recently focused

on replanting some 10 hectares of mined-out white sand covered land in Mahdia, Region Eight

with the Acacia mangium, a multi-purpose plant that facilitates soil fertility by fixing nitrogen in

the soil. Replanting efforts are also currently ongoing at Isseneru, Noitgedacht, Aranka, and

Arakaka. These activities will be extended to other areas. At Noitgedacht, GGMC has been

utilising the mined-out land for three purposes: the planting of Acacia mangium and cultivating

crops between the Acacia mangium; utilising the old mining pits as fish ponds for sport fishing

and; the construction of a recreational facility for the benefit of the youths in the area.

The MNRE Land Reclamation Project has thus far identified several sites to conduct reclamation

activities, including gold and bauxite mined out areas. Efforts are also being made to have

miners comply with the environmental requirements, reclaim mined out areas and practice

progressive reclamation. This will be done through enforcement by the GGMC. The Mining

Amendment Regulations 2005 require mining operations to prepare Reclamation and Closure

Plans and conduct reclamation and closure activities. Large scale mining operations are already

rehabilitating mined out areas as part of their Closure Plan.

Guyana has also signed on to the Minamata Convention on Mercury and has commenced

activities through the GGMC, which is the country’s focal point of the Convention. A draft

Phase Out Plan for mercury was prepared in 2014 and work is currently being done to assess the

impact of mercury on the mining sector.

Assessments are also being conducted to determine the impacts of mining on the ecology in

mining areas. One recent exercise was conducted in September 2014 with the EPA, GGMC and

WWF collaborating in undertaking an Ecological and Physio-chemical Assessment of the

Konawaruk and Mazaruni Rivers. Water quality monitoring is also being done quarterly by

GGMC within the six mining districts.


89

4.9.9 Pipeline projects that will impact Guyana’s efforts to combat

DLDD

1) Cross Cutting Capacity Development Project

The key areas for the GL&SC as National Focal Point to the UNCCD are as follows:

Strengthening capacity for indicator-based reporting.

Strengthening capacity for monitoring and evaluation related to desertification and land

degradation.

Improvement of capacities for knowledge management including traditional knowledge, best

practices and success stories.

The three Rio Conventions call for the building of capacities of relevant individuals and

organizations (resource users, owner, consumers, community and political leaders, private and

public sector managers and experts) to engage proactively and constructively with one another to

manage a global environmental issue.

The project “Strengthening Technical Capacities to Mainstream and Monitor Rio Convention

Implementation through Policy Coordination” is a Medium Sized UNDP Project which seeks to

harmonise the work of the Focal Points in ensuring that Guyana meets it implementation needs

under the UNCCD, UNFCCC and UNCBD. The executing agency is Department of Natural

Resources and the Environment with implementation support from the National Focal Points,

GL&SC, EPA and Office of Climate Change (OCC).

The proposed project addresses the obligations that Guyana has to fulfill to the three Rio

Conventions related to assessing and integrating global environmental priorities into national

development frameworks under the UNCCD, UNFCCC and CBD. The Project has three (3)

Components, Component 1: Strengthening technical capacities for mainstreaming and

monitoring Rio Conventions, Component 2: Strengthening institutional capacities to mainstream

and monitor Rio Convention implementation through development policies, programmes and

plans, and Component 3: Improving awareness of global environmental values. The Project

would address various challenges and barriers to the implementation of the Conventions such as:

Fragmented administrative/institutional arrangements for implementing specific activities

under the Rio Conventions.

Low public awareness and education on issues related to the Rio Conventions.

Weak engagement of NGOs in the planning and management of the Rio Conventions.


90

Limited public sector resources (human, financial and technical) to allow effective

retention of skills needed for managing the Rio Conventions on biodiversity and land

degradation.

Lack of strategies and plans that outline national commitment for implementing

obligations under the conventions.

Weak overall communication and consultation between and among secretariats

responsible or having a stake in natural resources and the environment, in particular

coverage of Rio Convention obligations.

Lack of monitoring mechanisms to ensure that obligations under conventions are

achieved.

In particular, the project will contribute to the development of cross-cutting capacity under the

Programme framework “Integrating global environmental needs into management information

systems and monitoring”. It aims to develop capacities of individuals and organizations to plan

and develop effective environmental policy and legislation, related strategies, and plans based on

informed decision-making for global environmental management. In particular, there will be

strengthening of monitoring, and data and information management and sharing. Overall, this

project will strengthen the institutional and technical capacities, and facilitate mainstreaming and

monitoring to integrate Rio Conventions into policies, programmes, and plans.

2) Minamata Initial Assessment

This project is being undertaken in Guyana by UNDP following a UN agreement reached in

January 2013 for the establishment of a globally legally binding Convention on Mercury - “The

Minamata Convention on Mercury”. The Convention was adopted and opened for signature on

10 October 2013, at a Conference of Plenipotentiaries (Diplomatic Conference) in Kumamoto,

Japan.

The Minamata Convention is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from

the adverse effects of mercury. The major highlights of the Minamata Convention on Mercury

include a ban on new mercury mines, the phase-out of existing ones, control measures on air

emissions, and the international regulation of the informal sector for artisanal and small-scale

gold mining.To date, 128 countries have signed the Convention, while 10 countries have ratified

it. The Government of Guyana signed the Convention in October 2013 and ratified it in

September 2014. The Convention will enter into force 90 days after it has been ratified by 50

nations.

A Mercury Initial Assessment (MIA) will provide a basis for any further work towards

implementation. As such the development of a country’s MIA will assist a country in: taking its

decision to notify the convention in accordance with article 7; developing its National

Implementation Plan in accordance with Article 20 and; preparing a national plan to reduce


91

emissions of mercury in accordance with Article 8. The Project’s objective is for the

Government of Guyana to undertake a Mercury Initial Assessment (MIA) to establish a national

foundation to undertake future work towards the implementation of the Convention.

The project’s expected outcomes will be a description of the following: (a) National Mercury

profile, including significant sources of emissions and releases, as well as inventories of mercury

and mercury compounds; (b) Structures, institutions, legislation already available to implement

the Convention; (c) Barriers that would hinder or prevent implementation and; (d) Technical and

financial needs for implementation of the Convention, including resources from the GEF,

national sources, bilateral sources, the private sector and others.

The Enabling Activity (EA) project has been organised into two components:

Enabling environment for decision-making on the implementation of the Minamata

Convention;

Development of the National Mercury Profile and Mercury Initial Assessment Report

3) Climate Resilience Strategy and Action Plan

The Climate Resilience Strategy and Action Plan (CRSAP) is being developed under the LCDS

by the Government of Guyana through the Office of Climate Change (OCC) to provide a

comprehensive framework for addressing climate change adaptation and resilience in Guyana.

This framework will help Guyana to address direct and indirect impacts associated with extreme

events, as well as emerging, indirect, slow-onset climate impacts and hazards. The project is

being developed in partnership with Conservation International Foundation Guyana (CI-Guyana)

with support from the Kingdom of Norway. Acclimatise, a UK based consultancy group has

been contracted to develop the CRSAP.

The CRSAP is a key project that is being funded under the Guyana – Norway agreement. The

agreement continues to make significant progress and in October 2014, Guyana earned US$ 35

million as its fourth performance based payment under the Partnership. This brings Guyana’s

total earning to US$ 150 million since the Partnership started in 2009. These earnings are being

channelled into priority investments, such as the CRSAP, which aims to assist Guyana in

achieving its long-term developmental goals.

The CRSAP is especially timely given that Guyana has already begun to feel the devastating

impacts of climate change such as hotter days and more intense rainfall. In recent years, the

country has experienced extreme weather events that have resulted in high levels of flooding

along the coast and in some inland areas. It was close to a decade ago that Guyana experienced


92

the highest rainfall record since 1888, which resulted in the most severe flooding in the country’s

history.

Making the economy resilient to climate change and reducing Guyana’s vulnerability and

exposure to climate change is one of the key goals of the Low Carbon Development Strategy

(LCDS). Climate change adaptation and resilience building were identified as priority under the

LCDs projects and a series of measures were identified.The CRSAP supports this vision and

will, inter-alia, help to identify current climate risks and determine options for building resilience

and adapting to climate change. In addition, the CRSAP will help to prioritise adaptation and

resilience projects.

4) National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

Measures to protect biodiversity are outlined in the recently revised National Biodiversity

Strategy and Action Plan and several initiatives are being undertaken including education and

awareness, polices and legislation, institutional strengthening, implementation of projects, etc.

Guyana has over the years implemented measures to ensure the conservation and protection of

the biological and other natural resources. The LCDS outlined how Guyana intends to ensure

that at least 10% of the country’s land area would be under some form of protection. Guyana’s

policy objective is to achieve the UNCBD target of having at least 17% of the country’s land and

inland water under some form of protection by 2020.

5) Protected Areas Initiatives

Protection and conservation efforts have a long history, stretching back to 1929 and the creation

of the Kaieteur National Park, which was one of the first protected areas in the region. Since then

Guyana has made steady progress in conservation and protected areas development. Key

accomplishments include the establishment of the Iwokrama International Centre in 1996 and the

creation of the community owned conservation area at Kanashen in 2006. These achievements

ultimately paved the way for the Protected Areas Act of 2011, which was a watershed moment

for protected areas in Guyana. For the first time, Guyana has in place a national legislative

framework that allows for the establishment, management and growth of an effective system of

protected areas.

The passage of the Act was followed by the legal establishment of two new protected areas in the

Kanuku Mountains and Shell Beach. These areas joined the existing Kaieteur National Park and

Iwokrama Rainforest Reserve, and the Community Owned Conservation Area at Kanashen,

which together account for approximately 8.6% of Guyana’s landmass. The system also includes

the National Park, Zoological Park and the Botanical Gardens.


93

With the Act in place, 2012 saw the appointment of Protected Areas Commission (PAC) Board,

recruitment of staff members, establishment of the PAC Office and finally the opening the

Commission in November of 2012. The initial focus was on operationalizing the legal and

institutional framework, raising awareness in communities on the new legislation and the work

of the PAC, and preparing management plans for the areas within the National Protected Areas

System.

Progress was made possible in part through a number of long-standing partners for Guyana’s

protected areas, including the EPA, the Government of Germany, CI, WWF, Flora and Fauna

International and the Guyana Marine Turtle Conservation Society (GMTCS). The PAC is now

working to create new partnerships. One example is the signing of a MoU with Panthera, which

paves the way for future collaborations with the private sector and corporate groups.

Current activities are focused on the rehabilitation of the National Park, Zoological Park and the

Botanical Gardens under the Three Parks Initiative, facilitating the creation of the National

Protected Areas Trust Fund, developing a Strategic Plan for the PAC, a systems plan for the

protected areas system, management plans for individual protected areas, and establishing a field

presence in these protected areas. Partnerships will also be strengthened with local communities,

the private sector, NGOs and other important stakeholders in-country and overseas.

In addition to the national efforts, conservation is also practiced at local levels, mainly through

the initiatives of NGOs and CBOs. Some of these measures include sustainable resource

extraction and alternative means of livelihood including sustainable tourism operations. The

Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development is currently

managing a reserve of 371,000 hectares of rainforest as a protected area to ensure lasting

ecological, economic and social benefits and is working with communities within and around the

forest to develop sustainable practices in resource management and use.

Conservation International (CI) is involved in several initiatives to ensure conservation,

including supporting the establishment of the Kanuku Mountains Protected Area and the

establishment of the Kanashen Community Owned Conservation Area.

Currently, WWF is also involved in several initiatives in Guyana to promote conservation,

including biodiversity assessments, supporting the establishment and management of protected

areas, supporting the concept of green economies and payment for ecosystem services, pollution

abatement in the gold mining sector, and promoting marine turtle conservation and sustainable

fisheries. The GMTCS executes the marine turtle conservation programme at Shell Beach and is

involved in the direct monitoring of sea turtles nesting.


94

There has also been an increase in activities from CBOs relating to conservation. The Kanashen

Community Owned Conservation Area which was established by the community and is now the

largest protected area in the country and is managed exclusively by the community. This

effectively brings more than one million acres of rainforest under sustainable management while

ensuring the continued development of the Wai Wai people and their traditional way of life.

Karanambu Trust is involved in activities to ensure the conservation of the Rupununi savannah

and wetlands ecosystem. The North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB) also

promotes conservation through its activities, and is involved in several initiatives such as

sustainable community tourism, community monitoring, reporting verification system, training

and awareness, natural resources management, etc. The South Rupununi Conservation Society is

working to protect the endangered Red Siskin (Carduelis cucullata), a bird that was trapped to

near extinction to supply the cage bird trade. Other communities in the Rupununi are involved in

the sustainable management of their traditional lands and resources while some coastal CBOs are

engaged in sustainable utilization of resources from mangrove areas.

4.9.10 Drainage and irrigation

The National Strategy for Agriculture in Guyana 2013-2020 indicates that drainage to prevent

flooding is being improved with the construction of the East Demerara Northern Relief Structure

(Hope Canal) and the proposed rehabilitation of the Cunha Canal. Expansion of the current

drainage and irrigation system is also being pursued, including the Aurora Land Development

Project, Phases 2 and 3 of the MMA-ADA Project, additional drainage canal such as the one at

Cottage, acquiring of more pumps, etc. To supply irrigation water improvement in conservancies

are also being pursued such as the Conservancy Adaptation Project (East Demerara Water

Conservancy) and extending these initiatives to the Boeraserie and Tapakuma Conservancies.

The National Agriculture also indicates that the improvement in the management of the

country’s water resources is also being pursued. In 2013 a National Integrated Water Resources

Management Policy and Roadmap was prepared to ensure water resources are managed in a

manner to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of Guyana’s citizens and ecosystems and to

ensure effective, efficient, and equitable use of water resources consistent with the sustainable

development goals of the nation. In 2014 a National Wastewater Strategy was prepared and

outlined the approach to sustainably manage wastewater over the period 2014-2034 and to

reduce land-based pollution to terrestrial and coastal waters from untreated wastewater thus

allowing Guyana to meet the requirements of the LBS Protocol.

The National Agriculture Strategy states that the participation of farmers and farming

communities in the management of drainage and irrigation systems, such as the Water Users‟

Associations (WUAs) is to be optimized so that management of water, drainage and irrigation


95

can be improved. The WUAs have been assisting with the maintenance of the secondary

drainage and irrigation systems in key farming areas.

4.10 Synergies

4.10.5 Joint Planning and Programming for the Rio Conventions

(CONS-O-7).

This section discusses the progress being made by the GOG to improve joint programming and

planning for the three Rio Conventions, using the Sustainable Development Goals for guidance.

Implementation of the three key Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) is divided

among various agencies. Given the current shortage of human capacity within these agencies the

opportunity to develop the national knowledge management capacity for synergies between the

three conventions will be given priority. Information can be collected, saved, processed and

exchanged between institutions, professionals and policymakers through a knowledge

management network. This knowledge management network will act as a tool for unified

monitoring and reporting to the three conventions.

Three relevant efforts are note-worthy:

GFC is establishing and implementing a well-functioning REDD+ framework, which will

affirm the importance of REDD+ as a strong potential means to access funds for

combating land degradation

GFC has also established a national Conflict Resolution Strategy for REDD+

Ministry of Agriculture has led the development of guidelines for responsible recreational

fishing and best practices in ornamental fish collection and handling

The DNRE and UNDP are currently preparing a Medium Sized Project to synergise the Rio

Conventions, CDB, UNCCD and UNFCCC. These are all examples of initiatives supporting the

implementation of one convention, with strong linkages and benefits to the other conventions.

The most recent National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2012-2020 was approved by

cabinet in May 2015. Within this document, priority actions are identified that will contribute to

attainment of the various Aichi Targets. While these priority actions and corresponding targets

are included in the document, no indicator has been specified. Considering the recent

completion of the document, implementation of new objectives under the plan has not yet

commenced. The Plan also indicates initiatives that are ongoing as part of the mandate of the

respective sector agencies: restoration of mined-out sites; restoration of Mangrove Belt and;

establishment of legally Protected Areas.


96

The Land Reclamation Committee established under the Department of Natural Resources and

the Environment is responsible for targeting restoration of mined out areas (information on this

can be found on page 55-56 of Guyana’s Fifth National Report to the CBD. Progress towards

attainment of this target can also be found from pages 55-64 and in table 12 of this document).


97

4.10.6 Cross-Cutting Projects

Cross-cutting projects related to the three Rio Conventions include those listed in table 5 below.

Table 5: Cross-cutting projects related to the Rio Conventions

Name of project Project

Duration

Funding

Source

Budget

(USD)

Ongoing projects

Enhancing biodiversity protection through

strengthened monitoring, enforcement and

uptake of environmental regulations in

Guyana’s gold mining sector (MSP)

2014-2017 GEF 880,000

Strengthening technical capacities to

mainstream and monitor Rio Convention

implementation through policy

coordination (PPG)

2015-2016 GEF 50,000

Assessment and monitoring of land

degradation and the promotion of

sustainable land management practices in

the natural resources sector (PIF)

2015 UNDP 98,000

Support the alignment of Guyana’s

national action plan to the UNCCD’s 10-

year (208-2018) strategic plan (EA)

2014-2015

(possible

extension to

2016)

GEF 136,986

Minamata Initial Assessment for Guyana

(EA)

2015-2016 GEF 200,000

Amerindian land titling 2013-2016 GRIF 10,755,990

Amerindian development fund 2014-2017 GRIF 6,259,414.32

Guiana Shield Facility 2010-2015 EU; Dutch

Government

3,811,944

Pipeline projects

Strengthening technical capacities to

mainstream and monitor Rio Convention

implementation through policy

coordination (MSP)

2016-2018 GEF 1,000,000

Mainstreaming biodiversity in mining,

including assessment and monitoring of

land degradation (FSP)

2017-2020 GEF 4,030,000

Climate change mitigation 2017-2019 GEF 2,060,000

Mainstreaming disaster risk management

in agriculture

2016-2017 Government of

Japan

300,000

Japan-Guyana Climate Change Partnership 2015-2017 Government of

Japan

1,000,000


98

4.10.3 Operational mechanisms

(CONS-O-7)

Outreach and awareness on synergies between conventions and other initiatives being

implemented in Guyana, need to be enhanced. One such example is the Conservancy Adaptation

project31 where among the outputs was a hydrologic baseline, including a comprehensive

hydrological and topographical dataset for the improved understanding of how to increase the

discharge capacity of the flood control system.

Further, most institutions lack the technical and practical knowledge for financial and technical

resources mobilisation to implement projects and programmes dealing with synergies between

the three conventions. Since financial constraints are often cited as a major challenge to

implementation, this is a critical area for capacity development. Integrated resource mobilization

can go a long way in minimising overlaps and maximising the benefits from international and

other aid sources.

4.11 Capacity Building

(CONS-O-13)

The Cross- Cutting Capacity Development Project which is currently in the pipeline in Guyana

(see section 4.18.5 of this report) is in keeping with the requirement that countries would

undertake bottom up consultation to address the assessment of individual, institutional and

systemic capacities to implement and sustain global environmental outcomes and commitments

by countries to the Rio Conventions. This project will be done under the updating of Guyana’s

NCSA (see also section 4.4 of this report that addresses“education, training and awareness”)

4.12 Sustainable Land Management

This section focuses on activities undertaken to implement the specific actions to address SLM in

Guyana(Source: Environmental Management Consultants, Rapid Stocktaking Report, Alignment

of NAP Project (GL&SC/ UNDP/ GEF), 2014).

A National Land Degradation Assessment was conducted in 2008 and this presented the extent

and drivers of land degradation. In addition to the National Assessment, a Pilot Area was also

assessed (Local Area Degradation Assessment), with the pilot site covering an extensive area

within Region # 10, including Linden. These assessments were done under the Capacity

Development and Mainstreaming for Sustainable Land Management (SLM) Project.

The draft National Land Use Policy which was prepared in 2004 is yet to be finalized but was

revised in 2007. The Policy aims to streamline land use planning and to create conditions


99

necessary to achieve types of land uses which are sustainable, socially desirable and

environmentally compatible on state lands and provides the framework for coordination among

land uses, as well as, facilitates integration of land use.

A report was prepared in 2012 recommending integration of Sustainable Land Management into

the draft Land Use Policy. The National Land Use Plan was prepared and approved in 2013 and

implementation has commenced. This Plan provides support to decision-making by looking at

development options and constraints throughout the country. It was compiled by assessing

current land use, potential constraints and stakeholders’ concerns. It also provides the

methodology and data for preparation of three Regional Land Use Plans. The GL&SC Strategic

Plan 2013–2017 under Strategic Objective 1 includes reporting on compliance with international

commitments such as the UNCCD. Neither the National Land Use Plan nor the GL&SC

Strategic Plan makes reference to the NAP.

A methodology was developed for Regional Land Use Planning by the Natural Resources

Management Project (NRMP). Updating and demonstration of the methodology was completed

and a Land Use Planning System of tier levels of planning was prepared as a Paper by the

Development of Land Use Planning Project (DLUPP). In addition, a Legal Framework Report

prepared on Land Use Planning and regulation was drafted to strengthen the process of regional

land use planning, and a Discussion Paper on a Land Use System was prepared to support the

system of planning at the national, regional and local level. To date regional land use plans were

prepared for:

Lethem - Linden Road Corridor

Soesdyke – Linden Highway

Region # 6 (East BerbiceCorentyne)

Region # 9 Sub Region 1 (Rupununi)

The Land Use Coordinating Committee was approved and is now functional.

Soil health is a main priority area in the National Agriculture Strategy 2013-2020 which states

that it should be promoted through the prudent utilization of biological, chemical and physical

methods using an eco-system agronomic approach. Some measures to promote soil conservation

and stringent management through sustainable agricultural practices occur indirectly through the

Environmental Impact Assessment and Management Planning for medium and large agricultural

development. Companies pursuing large scale agricultural activities are required to outline

measures to prevent land degradation in their Environmental Management Plan.

Legislation within the environment and natural resources sector were passed, including some

which contribute directly to the prevention and mitigation of land degradation such as the Mining


100

Amendment Regulations 2005 made under the Mining Act 1989, the Forest Act 2009, the

Protected Areas Act 2011, Environmental Protection Litter Enforcement Regulations 2013, the

Wildlife Management and Conservation Regulations 2013, and the draft Environmental

Protection Compliance and Enforcement Regulations. These compliment previously existing

legislation, including the Environmental Protection Act 1996 and the Environmental Protection

Regulations 2000.

There is some progress in the harmonization and strengthening of institutional arrangements for

land planning and management with the creation of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the

Environment (MNRE) in 2011. MNRE was created to facilitate the efforts of Government to

continue to focus on expanding and diversifying the economy on the basis of rational use of

Guyana’s natural resources. The Ministry has the responsibility to coordinate activities in the

forestry, mining, environmental management, wildlife, protected areas, and land use planning

sectors. In addition, the Ministry has overall responsibility for the following institutions: GFC,

GGMC, Guyana Gold Board, GL&SC, EPA, Wildlife Management Authority, National Parks

Commission and PAC to allow for greater coordination among the principal natural resources

agencies. MNRE has prepared a Strategic Plan which outlines measures for improvement in

institutional arrangements and coordination. Further, institutional arrangement for land use

planning was prepared to respond at divisional level of operation (awaiting approval by MNRE).

A National Project Board was established in 2014 with oversight responsibility for the

implementation of the NAP Alignment Project and this Board meets every three months.

Land Information Systems were strengthened with networking access and continued data

extraction and updating using satellite imagery. Data include national land datasets from GL&SC

and other agencies. There was also the creation of a centralized GIS Unit by the MNRE which

collects information inclusive of activities which result in land degradation. This should also

contribute to improved harmonization. Inventories are being conducted such as the GFC

inventory on coastal mangroves conducted in 2011.

Cross sectoral committees are being created to implement specific activities within the sector,

such as the Land Reclamation Committee and the Mangrove Action Committee. NGOs and

CBOs are also actively participating and contributing, thus enhancing the institutional capacity.

4.13 Best Practices in Sustainable Land Management

Table 6 provides an overview of selected SLM practices which exemplify good and sustainable

approaches to governing, managing and utilizing natural resources. Best practices for those

sectors which pose particular challenges and opportunities for combating DLDD are prioritized.

Table 6: Best practices/regulations available


101

Sector

Best Practice/Regulations Available

Agency

Mining Code of Practice for Mercury Use

Code of Practice for Mine Reclamation

Code of Practice for Mine Effluents

Code of Practice for Contingency and

Response Plans

Code of Practice for Mine Waste

Management and Disposal

Code of Practice for Tailings Management

GGMC

Fisheries Sustainable Fishing Best Practices Ministry of Agriculture;

Department of Fisheries

Agriculture

Promoting Agro-Processing and Value Added

Products: Hazard Analysis and Critical Control

Point (HACCP) Global Regulations

Ministry of Agriculture

Forestry Codes of Practice for:

Wood Processing Facilities for Guyana

(Sawmills and Lumberyards)ITTO

Timber Sales Agreement and Wood Cutting

License Holders

Large Concessions

Small Concessions

Agriculture Lease

Mining Lease

GFC

Land Regional Land Use Planning Methodology

(2002)

GL&SC

Agriculture Organic Cocoa- Region 1

Organic Pineapple Region 2

Amcar

Environment Draft Compliance and Enforcement

Regulations, 2014

Wildlife Regulations

Litter Regulations

Hazardous Waste Regulations

Water Quality Regulations

Biomedical Waste Guidelines

Chemical & Industrial Wastes Guidelines

EMP Guidelines

Oily Sludge Guidelines

Poultry Rearing Guidelines

Spray Painting Guidelines

Swine Rearing Guidelines

EPA


102

4.14 Monitoring systems dedicated to DLDD

4.14.1 LADA, WOCAT, GLADIS

(CONS-O-8).

There is a need to establish a national monitoring system dedicated to DLDD. At the national

level, Land Degradation Assessment in Drylands (LADA) and World Overview of Conservation

Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT) have been used.LADA is a scientifically-based

approach to assessing and mapping land degradation at different spatial scales – small to large –

and at various levels – local to global. It was initiated in drylands but the methods and tools have

been developed so as to be widely applicable in other ecosystems and diverse contexts with

minimal required adaptation.1 The LADA programme was financed by the Global Environment

Facility (GEF), implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and

executed by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in close cooperation with national

institutions in Argentina, China, Cuba, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia.

To avoid a negative bias due to a focus only on land degradation, LADA also assesses and maps

land improvement or sustainable land management (SLM) using WOCAT tools. The LADA-

WOCAT set of tools and approaches provides balanced information and mapping capabilities on

land resources status and trends in any given area, as well as on their causes, impacts and the

actual and potential future responses.

LADA’s main objective, using its mapping and assessment tools, is to identify and understand

the causes of land degradation and the impacts of land use, including the effectiveness of

current/recent responses. LADA provides a global monitoring and assessment system and an

interlinked national and local level assessment and decision- support system on land degradation

and improvement. It enables stakeholders (national multi-sectoral teams) and agencies with land

users at local level to identify and prioritize required national planning and policy interventions

and actions on the ground for promoting the wide adoption of sustainable land management

(SLM).

1FAO 2013. Land Degradation Assessment in Drylands.Authors Riccardo Biancalani, Freddy Nachtergaele Monica Petri, Sally


103

In addition at the global level, LADA developed a Global Land Degradation Information System

(GLADIS), which facilitates analysis of the change in the provision of ecosystem goods and

services resulting from land management practices. The main components analysed are: biomass,

soil health, water quantity, biodiversity, economic benefit and social benefit. GLADIS is based

on an assessment of the status and trends of ecosystem goods and services, including the impacts

that changes have on local populations. GLADIS summarizes findings in the form of radar

diagrams aggregating broad groups of ecosystem goods and services – biomass, soil health,

water quantity, biodiversity, also social and cultural impacts, considering their changes over a

period of about 15-25 years. GLADIS has undergone a consultative process with the six LADA

pilot countries, and a preliminary scientific peer review. Following the review, the system has

been updated and it is undergoing a further scientific and country based review.

Preliminary GLADIS results are available for the entire globe, also for each country, or for

specific land use systems within a country.2 FAO and its LADA partners also developed

DISforLADA which is a Land Degradation Indicator System.3Some of the indicators included in

the database are aridity index, biodiversity conservation, burned area, deforested area, cultivated

sloping land, ground water level, crop yield.

In Guyana, apart from the GFC which collects information on forest degradation through the

MRVS, no other Agency is known to be collecting land degradation information in a systematic

manner though institutions may collect data on a regular basis which may be related to land

degradation e.g. extent of areas degraded from mining activities.

It is proposed that GL&SC consider the following:

Review the outputs of the LADA project and GLADIS results as it regards Guyana;

Consider implementation of the LADA methodology and determine what would be

suitable indicators for Guyana;

Conduct a stakeholder engagement process to solicit inputs on the defining and refining

of these indicators for use by Guyana;

Examine the extent to which information related to the agreed indicators are being

collected in Guyana, where it exists and the status and condition of this data;

Establishing a database for land degradation to be housed at the GL&SC;

Establish protocols with other Agencies and organizations for the collection and sharing

of data related to the indicators;

Dedicate and mobilise resources for the continuous updating and management of this

database.

2FAO.Global Land Degradation Information System (GLADIS).

http://www.fao.org/nr/lada/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=161&Itemid=113&lang=en 3FAO.DISforLADA Database .http://dis-nrd.uniss.it/index.php?_mod=view


104

4.14.2 Assessment of sites for observation and monitoring of land

degradation

The WOCAT programme has over the past 20 years developed a standardized and harmonized

methodology for (sub) national and local-level assessment of soil and water conservation. This

methodology provides a framework for documenting and assessing sustainable land

management. It has built up a global database of over 200 SLM technologies and over 100 so-

called “approaches” (the ways and means to successfully implement a technology on the

ground).

WOCAT has developed three questionnaires – technologies4, approaches

5, categorisation

system6 which can be entered into the WOCAT database and used to generate information

related to sustainable land management. The categorisation system questionnaire can be used for

example to categorise land use type, conservation measures, degradation types and main causes

of land degradation.

In 2008, the GL&SC commissioned a report7 on land degradation in Guyana which concluded

that land degradation was not a widespread phenomenon and identified the main drivers as being

mining, logging, agriculture and settlement expansion with mining seemingly the most severe

and visible driver.

In 2012, the Government of Guyana established a Land Reclamation Committee (LRC) which

has the overarching objective of coordinating national level efforts for the reclamation of mined-

out areas and to provide guidance to the MNRE and the GGMC. Under the Land Reclamation

Project being overseen by the LRC there is a scientific basis for the selection of areas for

rehabilitation and this involves the application of a Decision Tool which includes size of

clearance; availability of rehabilitation materials etc.

As part of the consultancy, two sites were selected and visited by the team and GL&SC

representatives. These sites are located at Profit in the Abary area in Region 5, and the Dakoura

Mines at Linden in Region 10. The sites were selected from two different areas to represent and

observe different drivers of land degradation, with the site at Profit degraded from erosion and

salt water intrusion and the Dakoura Mines having the effects of bauxite mining. In addition to

these, there are several other areas in Guyana which can also serve as suitable locations to

observe and monitor land degradation.

4 WOCAT.https://www.wocat.net/fileadmin/user_upload/documents/QT_and_QA/TechQuestE.pdf 5WOCAT. https://www.wocat.net/fileadmin/user_upload/documents/QT_and_QA/AppQuestE.pdf 6WOCAT. .https://www.wocat.net/fileadmin/user_upload/documents/QT_and_QA/CategorisationSystem.pdf 7GL&SC (2008). National Assessment of Land Degradation in Guyana – Diagnostic Report


105

It is proposed that GL&SC consider the following:

Review the tools developed under LADA8 and WOCAT

9to determine whether they could

be adapted to the Guyana context.

Utilise the mechanism of the LRC and working closely with the land reclamation project

and key stakeholders, identify suitable locations to monitor/assess land degradation.

Apply the modified LADA/WOCAT tools, map, observe and monitor land degradation at

these sites.

The outputs from these efforts can assist in developing and implementing a programme for the

monitoring of land degradation.

4.15 Policy framework

4.15.5 Assessment of relevant policies

During 2015, an assignment was conducted on The Identification and Mainstreaming of Policies

to support an Aligned National Action Plan to combat Land Degradation. The findings indicated

that legislation within the environment and natural resources sector were passed, including some

which contribute directly to the prevention and mitigation of land degradation. These include the

Mining Amendment Regulations 2005 made under the Mining Act 1989, the Forest Act 2009,

the Protected Areas Act 2011, Environmental Protection Litter Enforcement Regulations 2013,

the Wildlife Management and Conservation Regulations 2013 and the draft Environmental

Protection Compliance and Enforcement Regulations. These compliment previously existing

legislation, including the Environmental Protection Act 1996 and the Environmental Protection

Regulations 2000.

4.15.6 National coordination and mainstreaming

The findings of the above 2015 assignment on “The Identification and Mainstreaming of Policies

to support an Aligned National Action Plan to combat Land Degradation” also indicated that

with regard to the mainstreaming and integrating NAP activities into existing national strategies

and national plans, there exist ample strategies and national plans that are currently ongoing,

which have similar activities and actions plans as the NAP, where mainstreaming can occur.

Land resource planning and management is cross-sectorial and correspondingly, implementation

of the NAP activities would require participation of all the agencies and commissions under the

Ministry of Governance. The Department of Natural Resources and the Environment(DNRE)

will be responsible for coordinating the activities. The assessment also indicated that institutions

in Guyana have sufficient capacity in terms of planning and implementing the NAP activities and

8LADA manuals. http://www.fao.org/nr/lada/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=152&Itemid=168&lang=en 9WOCAT. https://www.wocat.net


106

that there exist adequate institutional coordination and synergies in the country to implement

NAP activities which in many instances, would require coordination and synergies.

4.15.7 Synergies

The GOG is making substantial progress in the harmonization and strengthening of institutional

arrangements for land planning and management with the creation of the Ministry of Natural

Resources and the Environment (MNRE). Further, institutional arrangement for land use

planning was prepared to respond at divisional level of operation (awaiting approval by MNRE).

With respect to synergies between the GOG’s efforts to address combat DLDD, climate change

adaptation and mitigation, and biodiversity conservation, there is a need for further research and

evidence into the connection between DLDD, climate change and biodiversity. This type of

research would provide information on the interactions among these factors, including the degree

to which DLDD exacerbate the effects of climate change (and vice versa), etc., which would

guide the development of institutional mechanisms and more efficient and cost effective ways of

addressing these challenges.


107

5. INTEGRATED INVESTMENT FRAMEWORK WITH INTEGRATED FINANCIAL

STRATEGY FOR ALIGNED NAP IMPLEMENTATION

(CONS-O-14) (CONS-O-16)

This chapter is based on conclusions, strategic framework and the action plan emanating from

the Integrated Investment Framework (IIF) and Integrated Finance Strategy (IFS) study

conducted as part of the process of alignment of the NAP. It also includes a forecast of

adequacy, timeliness and predictability of external resources, particularly bilateral assistance

required to implement it.

The IIF and IFS are reflective of both global, regional and national developments since Rio 1992

and the original establishment of the UNCCD. Some of constraints and challenges facing the

deployment of the UNCCD are similar to those facing the UNCBD and the UNFCCC. But

compared to its two Rio sister conventions, the UNCCD has been and is particularly affected by

insufficient financing, a weak scientific basis, insufficient advocacy and awareness among

various constituencies, institutional weaknesses, and difficulties in reaching consensus among

Parties of the Convention.

Guyana has been affected by the changing policy environment since Rio, particularly so with:

the adoption of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); the outcomes of the World Summit

on Sustainable Development (WSSD); increased support to the least developed countries;

stronger commitment for climate change mitigation and adaptation; prospects of global

agricultural trade liberalization and; growing numbers of environmental migrants in other parts

of the World.

The Millennium Assessment (MA) has advanced the scientific basis and understanding of the

impacts of land degradation on human and ecosystem well-being through research on

biophysical and socioeconomic trends.

5.1 Global Environment Facility

The financing environment has changed profoundly within the last decade. With the Global

Environment Facility (GEF) becoming a financial mechanism for the UNCCD, official

development assistance (ODA) flows began increasing again after a decade of stagnation and

declining resources for rural development and agriculture. Donors have refocused their financing

strategies to support country-driven priorities, based on Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers

(PRSPs) and other country-led development planning instruments. Various innovative financing

instruments have also come to life, including payments for ecological services and carbon

finance.

The development of National Action Plans for the UNCCD is intended to foster initiatives to

help prevent, control and reverse land degradation and drought. The Global Mechanism, i.e., the


108

entity that is assisting countries to mobilize financial resources and increase investments for

sustainable land management, is aligned to the Strategy objectives by promoting resources that

enhance actions to implement the UNCCD through the Strategy. In parallel, the Global

Environment Facility, which finances several initiatives linked to climate change adaptation or

mitigation, also includes the UNCCD Strategy within its priorities and framework.

GEF 6 Cycle (GEF-6 PROGRAMMING DIRECTIONS, Extract from GEF Assembly Document

GEF/A.5/07/Rev.01, May 22, 2014) provides the details of the land degradation focal area

programs and activities for the four years for covering July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2018. The

mandate of GEF is to invest in global environmental benefits from production landscapes, as it

pertains to its role as a financial mechanism of the UNCCD.

The Land Degradation Focal Area provides the framework for eligible countries to utilize GEF

resources for implementing the Convention and its 10-year (2008-2018) Strategy which aims “to

forge a global partnership to reverse and prevent desertification/land degradation and to mitigate

the effects of drought in affected areas in order to support poverty reduction and environmental

sustainability.”

A Memorandum of Understanding between the UNCCD COP7 (Decision 6) and the GEF

Council has paved the way for direct support to affected country parties eligible for GEF

financing through enabling activities. GEF-6 would support affected country Parties in achieving

the objectives of the 10-year UNCCD Strategy, which “will involve long-term integrated

strategies that focus simultaneously in affected areas, on improved productivity of land and on

the rehabilitation, conservation, and sustainable management of land and water resources,

leading to improved living conditions, in particular at the community level.”

The amendment of the GEF instrument in 2010 has formally designated the GEF as a financial

mechanism of the UNCCD at the Fourth GEF Assembly held in May 2010 in Punta del Este,

Uruguay, and formally amended the GEF Instrument.

The GEF-6 strategy will directly support three of the four UNCCD strategic objectives on

achieving long-term benefits for affected populations (SO 1), affected areas (SO 2), and for the

global environment (SO 3). The GEF-6 replenishment phase (2014 – 2018) coincides with the

final four years of the UNCCD 10-year strategy. The alignment will ensure that countries

appropriately channel Land Degradation Focal Area investments to deliver targeted outcomes

and catalyze support for combating land degradation.

5.1.1 Goal and Priorities of the GEF-6 Cycle Land Degradation Focal Area

The goal of the land degradation focal area is to arrest and reverse current global trends in land

degradation, specifically desertification and deforestation, by promoting good SLM practices.

The primary approach for GEF-6 funding would be to address priorities that represent the best

opportunity for supporting agriculture, livestock management, and forest landscape restoration to


109

underpin rural livelihoods. This will directly address the need to: a) reinforce SLM for enhancing

resilience in agro-ecosystems; b) harness and maintain ecosystem services for agro-ecological

intensification; c) promote integrated management of production landscapes; and d) mainstream

SLM in sustainable development.

5.1.2 GEF Land Degradation Focal Area Objectives, Program Priorities and

Expected Outcomes

Table 7: GEF Land Degradation Focal Area Objectives, Program Priorities and Expected

Outcomes

Objectives Program Priorities Expected Outcomes and Indicators

LD 1 Agriculture and

Rangeland Systems:

Maintain or improve flow of

agro-ecosystem services to

sustain food production and

livelihoods

1) Agro-ecological

Intensification

2) SLM for climate

Smart Agriculture

Outcome 1.1: Improved agricultural,

rangeland and pastoral management.

Indicator 1.1: Land area under effective

agricultural, rangeland and pastoral

management practices and/or supporting

climate smart agriculture.

Outcome 1.2: Functionality and cover of

agro-ecosystems maintained.

Indicator 1.2: Land area under effective

management in production systems with

improved vegetative cover.

LD 2: Forest Landscapes:

Generate sustainable flows of

forest ecosystem services,

including sustaining liveli-

hoods of forest dependent

people

Program 3: Landscape

Management and

Restoration

Outcome 2.1: Support mechanisms.

LD 3:

Integrated Landscapes:

Reduce pressures on natural

resources from competing land

uses in the wider landscape

Program 4: Scaling-up

sustainable land

management through

the landscape

approach

Outcome 3.1: Support mechanisms for

SLM in wider landscapes established

Indicator 3.1: Demonstration results

strengthening cross-sector integration of

SLM.

Outcome 3.2: Integrated landscape

management practices adopted by local

communities based on gender sensitive

needs.

Indicator 3.2 Application of integrated

natural resource management practices in

wider landscapes.

LD 4: Maximising

transformational impact:

Maintain land resources and

agro-ecosystems services

through mainstreaming at scale

Program 5: SLM

Mainstreaming in

Development

Outcome 4.1: SLM mainstreamed in

development investments and value

chains across multiple scales.

Indicator 4.2: Increased investments in

SLM.


110

5.2 Resource Mobilization

The following section discusses the potential domestic, external and innovative sources of

financial resources. The country’s ownership of development priorities, a focus on results, the

forging of inclusive development partnerships, and transparency and accountability in the use of

resources, are all deemed critical for the successful implementation of the IIF.

5.2.1 External sources of funding

This component discusses external sources of funding, including bilateral and multilateral

donors, multinational corporations, charitable foundations, etc. While bilateral and multilateral

funding sources have traditionally contributed to the majority of project or program financing,

international funding is increasingly identified as supplementary resources. Increasingly,

international funding is now dependent upon the level of domestic resources which Guyana is

able to generate from its domestic budgets as well as, upon the level of co-financing from other

domestic and international donors/investors.

A better understanding of the international donor community is hence key, in addition to

mechanisms for increasing the mobilization of funding from external sources. Mobilizing funds

from external sources requires knowledge of the best possible development partners, their

priorities, goals, interests, policies, and budgets. Although international donors differ from one

another in terms of preferred intervention areas, financial instruments, and funding pre-requisites

and conditions, there remain several similarities among them. A number of strategic actions

could be taken in Guyana to aid in the improvement of resource mobilization from donors.

Similarly, some of these measures, such as specific reforms, may also be conducive to increasing

mobilization of funds from other external sources.(see OO5 in Table 10 of this report -

Assessment of Operational Objectives and Expected Outcomes against Guyana’s NAP).

Major funding sources are the World Bank, EU, International Fund for Agricultural

Development (IFAD), USA, Netherlands, Germany, Japan, Italy, Canada and Denmark. UNDP,

FAO, GM (Global Mechanism) and UNESCO are the UN agencies involved in natural

resources. In addition, several foreign NGOs are involved, together with CSOs. In addition to the

bilateral coordination between the foreign institutions and Guyanese institutions, the Local Aid

Coordination Secretariat (LACS) and its local development forum, four strategy groups and

sector working groups are the coordination mechanisms of technical assistance and foreign

support. Of direct relevance are the water, agriculture and environment sector working groups.

Each sector-working group consists of local and foreign institutions and is co-chaired by national

and foreign institutions.

Prioritization of budget allocation and donors support is a function of donors’ own strategies and

policies, national and macro policies and sectoral strategies and policies. As Guyana is a member


111

state of the United Nations, it can access several funding sources provided by the UN. However,

accessing international financing sources is of particular importance. The key policy

recommendations relevant to external financing sources are listed below:

Land and agricultural production are of vital importance. As such, donors and

international agencies should give protection, sustainable use and management of natural

resources high priority.

As desertification, land degradation and drought are closely linked, and drought severity

and frequency are increasing, a sub-working group or special taskforce needs to be

established as part of the Agricultural Sector Working Group.

Donors should consider matching-funding and sharing with the Guyanese private sector

and Guyanese Funds, in support of sustainable land management.

Donors should use debt swap mechanisms to promote and finance sustainable land

management interventions.

Non official development assistance such as Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), private

foreign investment, NGOs and CSOs should be explored and accessed.

Bilateral lending agencies

The most important source of bilateral aid for Guyana is Europe, with both the European

Commission and the Government of Norway providing significant revenue streams.

European Commission

Assistance through the European Commission (EC) under the 10th European Development Fund

(EDF) will concentrate on macro-economic support as well as continued support to the Guyana

sea defences and coastal management. A specific target of the 10th EDF programme will be

capacity building within the sea defence administration to prepare for the final hand-over of

responsibility for the maintenance of this crucial infrastructure from the EC to the national

authorities.

The EC's total allocation (2008-2013) for Guyana to address sea defence and coastal

management, amounts to €55.4 million. The sea defence project under the 9th EDF added a

contribution of €20 million to an already ongoing programme. The sea wall is critical to

safeguarding the investments in infrastructure and improved agricultural production in Guyana's

coastal belt where 90% of the population lives. It particularly serves to protect the poor who

often live close to the sea and whose livelihoods depend on agriculture (mainly rice and sugar).

The severe flood in January 2005 and the resulting loss of life and economic capacity, stressed

the continued importance of sea defences for Guyana's sustainable development.


112

Government of Norway: Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund

The Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF) was established in October 2010 and is the

financial mechanism for the ongoing cooperation on climate change between Guyana and

Norway. The fund will receive up to US$250 million from Norway in performance-based

payments for the period up until 2015, based on an independent verification of Guyana’s

deforestation and forest degradation rates and progress on REDD+ enabling activities. Guyana

will invest the payments it receives, and any income earned on them, in implementing its Low

Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

The GRIF will provide grant financing for goods, works or services for an investment, technical

assistance or capacity building activity or activities as approved by the Steering Committee in

accordance with the GRIF Governance Framework Document. The GRIF will however not

provide financing for budget support. The GRIF has allocated a budget of $250 million for up to

2015.

Forest payments will be invested to support the creation of new low-carbon economic

opportunities for small and micro enterprise (SME) sectors and vulnerable groups. This will take

the form of grants, a mutual guarantee fund, skills development and capacity building in agencies

responsible for SME development and vulnerable groups.

Multi-lateral lending agencies

Global Mechanism

Mandated by the UNCCD to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of existing financial

mechanisms and to promote actions leading to the mobilization and channeling of substantial

financial resources, the Global Mechanism (GM) supports developing countries to position SLM

as an investment priority. In addition, the GM provides countries with specialized advice on

accessing finance for SLM from a range of public and private sources, both domestic and

international.

Since beginning its operations in 1998, the GM has been housed by the International Fund for

Agricultural Development (IFAD), one of the world's leading international financial institutions

in promoting smallholder agriculture and “enabling poor rural people to overcome poverty”.

The GM represents a major contribution for IFS design by financially supporting it and all the

initiatives linked to Sustainable Land Management. While the IFS suggest a finance strategy, the

GM, as well as the GEF 6th Focal Area, supports these activities by delivering financial support.

The World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) are important sources of

finance (including loans, grants and technical assistance) for development projects in Guyana.

Some of the projects currently or recently financed by these agencies and which contribute to

sustainable development of natural resources in Guyana are presented below.


113

Conservancy Adaptation Project (CAP)

The objective of the Conservancy Adaptation Project (CAP) is to reduce the vulnerability of

catastrophic flooding in Guyana's low-lying coastal area that is currently threatened by sea level

rise resulting from global climate change. The project activities focused essentially on providing

technical engineering baseline for future interventions designed to reduce flood vulnerability.

A specific investment loan of up to $5 million has been allocated to this project.

Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Power Project

The Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Power Project is a proposed construction of a 165 MW

(installed) hydroelectric power generation facility and associated infrastructure to be located in

west central Guyana, immediately upstream from the confluence of the Kuribrong and Amaila

Rivers, approximately 250 kilometers southwest of the capital, Georgetown. Access to the

Project consists of approximately 85 km of new roads to be constructed, and about 122 km of

existing roads to be upgraded. This is a key project for Guyana as it has the potential for a unique

transformational effect on the country by converting its base load fossil fuel electric generation

capacity to clean hydro-generation.

Loan operations, private sector loan and ordinary capital of up to $200 million have been

allocated to this project.

Strengthening of Iwokrama Phase II

Strengthening of Iwokrama Phase II is a project designed to continue the Iwokrama International

Centre’s (IIC's) climate change science program at Iwokrama together with the extension of IIC's

core business such as ecotourism, sustainable forest management, development of forests' natural

services and the advancement of local community programs.

This project has been implemented thanks to the World Bank and a budget of $500 000 has been

allocated through non-reimbursable technical cooperation and ordinary capital.

Other projects related to agriculture, environment and sustainable land management have been

facilitated in Guyana by international agencies and other external financing sources.

5.2.2 Domestic sources of funding

This section describes the efforts being made to identify and access domestic funds.

GOG considers domestic sources of funding to be the ‘first door of financing’ for any program or

project in combating desertification and sustainable land management. As such, it will strive to

raise its own domestic funds to combat DLDD, prior to these being supplemented by donor

funds. The aim is to foster Guyana’s capacity to raise domestic financial resources and propose

means for improving the mobilization of these internal resources.


114

An analysis was done in the form of a medium term investment plan and the main sources of

domestic funding were identified. The means of increasing the mobilization of resources to be

used in combating desertification and sustainable land management were identified and the

decision-making process for resource allocation was outlined.

The annual national budget, administered by the MOF, is the major domestic budget source to

combat DLDD. All ministries and autonomous departments request their annual budget

allocations based on the operational budget and the development budget, respectively. The

former includes salaries, rents, and running costs, whereas the latter covers the financing of

projects, programmes and other developmental activities.

Both the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment are

institutions dealing directly with issues of relevance to SLM and DLDD. Local government

units and the private sector do not currently fund activities of direct relevance to combating

DLDD, except for farmers’ investments in agricultural activities and practices.

The following are key policy recommendations and directions of the GoG:

To ensure proper management and coordination of funds allocated within different national

institutions.

To foster an enabling environment that attracts and promotes investment in issues of

relevance, including tax incentives, subsidies and partnership with private sector.

To consider desertification and land degradation issues when plans and interventions are

being developed. This will include training, awareness raising, incentives and development

of regional land use plans.

To request the donor community and international agencies to place support for combating

desertification, land degradation and drought high on their agendas and strategies

To adjust and link appropriate/relevant initiatives to serve and match the strategy and the

objectives of the Aligned NAP.

To ensure that those companies investing and dealing with natural resources (particularly

agriculture, forestry, and mining)support and adopt sustainable land management measures

and practices, and avoid any negative impacts on natural resources and the environment

To establish an open dialogue with relevant stakeholders with regard to benefiting from and

accessing funding mechanisms.

Environmental bonds as a source domestic funding

For small-scale mining the environmental bond is set at GYD 25,000 (approximately 122 USD),

while for medium and large-scale mining, this amount is determined by the Commissioner

(generally established at 100,000 GYD or approximately 500 USD). According to “Project

Document, Land Reclamation Project (LRP), June 2014”, information sourced (from “A Full

Cost and Alternative Bonding from Land Reclamation – Bond Review and Implementation - K.


115

Ramdass and V. Manoo 2013) indicated that the current bonding structure and system must be

reviewed to realistically integrate land reclamation intervention both at the institutional level, as

well as the operational plans of miners.

The study indicated that current practices suggest a willingness among parcel/claim holders to

internalize this bond cost, by forgoing the prescribed environmental bonds, thus reneging on pre-

existing obligations to reclaim disturbed areas. At the time of the publication (2012), it was

observed that of the 8410 medium scale mining properties, only 22 bonds were repaid to parcel

holders. This translated to some 8.7 million dollars of forgone environmental bonds. Upon

cancellation or relinquishment of the property, the cost of debilitation is then transferred to the

GGMC.

Considering that annual commodity prices increase, in addition to the reduced time value of

currency, the actual land reclamation costs are substantially greater than the current costs

reflected in environmental regulations. This presents a financial burden and environmental

challenge for ensuring sustainable land management practices.

It was thus proposed that both the blanket and parcel bonds be revised to reflect the true cost

(Direct and Indirect) of the respective stages of land reclamation, as well as serve as a

disincentive for less than acceptable environmental practices by miners. The proposed options

are as follows:

An increase of the “total site bond” for land parcels ; or

An alternative “standard sectioned bond” which covers various sections of the site.

In anticipation of the substantial increase in bond, it was recommended that the appropriate

measures be put in place to offset the financial burden to miners. This would be achieved

through a strategic payment plan over a 5-year period, or full payment where possible.

5.2.3 Innovative sources of funding

Innovative sources of funding represent potential and non-traditional modes of financing, a new

supplementary approach aimed at increasing the amount of resources available and ensuring

better predictability of aid flows. This has been recognized as a particularly important condition

for maximizing the impact of ODA. In recent years, innovative financing mechanisms are

increasingly being seen as a stable and sustainable funding source that is not interrupted by

changes in political dynamics or donor modalities. Innovative resources are mobilized through

financial mechanisms and instruments where the principles of combating desertification and

sustainable land management are incorporated. The funds from innovative sources can be

earmarked to fund SLM activities.


116

Innovative financing sources include:

Financing instruments and mechanisms: GCF, Adaptation Fund, etc.

Bilateral initiatives: International Climate Initiative of Germany, Hatoyama Initiative of

Japan

New funds: United Kingdom Environmental Transition Fund, World Bank Climate

Investment Fund

Figure 7: Innovative sources of funding

5.3 Partnership Building and Technology Transfer

The UNCCD advocates the establishment of partnerships as a means to foster comprehensive

and widespread cross-sector collaboration to ensure that sustainable development initiatives are

imaginative, coherent and integrated. Partnership building is central to resource mobilization

due to the cross-sectoral nature of combating desertification and sustainable land management,

and the multitude of actors involved in it. Partnerships can be established at various levels as

follows:


117

Local level

Establish coalitions in order to succeed in carrying out local projects. This partnership should

encompass all the forces and competences at work in the local area, from municipal services,

through decentralized government services, civil society and NGOs, economic and industrial

settings, research centers or universities. Opportunities at the local level include collaboration

with Iwokrama, the North Rupununi District Development Board (NRDDB) and the Kanuku

Mountains group. An assessment conducted of the climate of Guyana with a focus on Iwokrama,

attempted to collate and analyse climate/hydrology data related to the Iwokrama Centre and the

surrounding regions. The project provided a valuable opportunity to establish relationships with

a network of all the major data providers not only in Guyana and the Caribbean region, but

globally as well.

The Forestry Training Centre Incorporated (FTCI) is as a result of a partnership between the

Guyana Forestry Commission, the Forest Products Association of Guyana and the Tropical

Forest Foundation with funding from the International Tropical Timber Organisation, the

Department for International Development (UK), and the World Wildlife Fund (Guianas). The

FTCI was established primarily to provide field operatives in Guyana and the wider region with

training in reduced impact logging through exposure to a model logging operation. The model

logging operation provides trainees with hands-on training in an actual timber harvesting setting

and targets forests managers and supervisory staff, inventory team leaders, chainsaw operators,

heavy duty machine operators, students, representatives of forest based communities and non-

governmental organizations.

National level

These partnerships serve to build strategic alliances at the policy level. The National

Meteorological and Hydrological Service (NMHS) of the Ministry of Agriculture provides

hydrological, meteorological, oceanographic and related data and information. It also prepares

and communicates forecasts and warnings and investigates and provides advisory services on

both national and international scales. In 2011, the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration

WWF and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), launched the National Water

Information System (NWIS). This system is an internet based, user-friendly programme that

aims to coordinate data dissemination and data sharing between data collectors and decision-

makers, centralise and standardise data collection across the multiple agencies and sectors

involved in water management. It provides easier access to timely information to assess a

country’s water resources for decision-making. Partnerships with the Ministry and WWF could

build very beneficial synergies in combating desertification and sustainable land management

Regional level


118

The establishment of partnerships is necessary for the success of regional integration. The New

Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) is a perfect illustration. It is an initiative based

on an integrated and comprehensive vision and strategic framework for development.

Partnerships between different African stakeholders are the established mode of functioning for

development activities on the African continent.

International level

These partners often provide direct or can facilitate project or program financing, technical

assistance, political lobby, exchange of expertise, exchange and dissemination of experiences,

and networking support among others. Partners may co-finance an ongoing program or

complement a planned program by another partner. Through the new LCDS Project areas on

Climate Resilience, Adaptation and Water Management, the upcoming Climate Resilience,

Adaptation and Water Management Initiatives will allocate up to US $100 million for a once-in-

a-generation effort to upgrade Guyana’s ability to cope with climate change. In response to a

growing awareness of the potential adverse effects of climate change and the particular

vulnerability of developing countries to this process, a significant increase in adaptation action

has been witnessed in recent years in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Of particular interest to combating desertification and to sustainable land management are South-

South partnerships. In 1999, with the medium term policy for Public Development Aid (PDA),

aid for South-South cooperation was deemed an integral part of effective methods of assistance.

In particular, the contribution of experts and the organization of training session are supported

mainly by South-South cooperation.

5.5 Action Plan for the IFS

The Action Plan for the Integrated Financing Strategy and Investment Framework summarizes

the main interventions to reach the outcomes and outputs of the strategy. The Plan uses

indicators in the form of a simple scorecard to identify the baseline situation as well as the

intended target result. Steps to reach the target are identified.


119

Table 8: Logical Framework for the development of an Integrated Financing Strategy and Investment Framework

in support of Guyana’s Aligned National Action Plan to Combat Land Degradation

Priority Areas for Aligned NAP Implementation

CONSOLIDATION TRACK

Indicator Target CHALLENGES/BARRIERS PHASE ESTIMATED

COSTS (USD)

1.

PO

LIC

Y A

ND

GO

VE

RN

AN

CE

To improve the institutional

capacity and the collaboration

between governmental

agencies

Reinforcement of intra-

governmental

coordination

-To allocate new resources

-To assess the identified strategies

for mainstreaming NAP activities

(implementation status, progress)

and remedy failed ones

To jeopardize the

implementation of the aligned

NAP

Phase 1 (3 years) $263,000

To undertake staff training in:

- Remote sensing

-Geographic Information

System (GIS) - Multi Criteria Decision

Analysis

- Information management

systems/information

technology

Staff expertise in state-of-

the-art geological-data

management technologies

Improve staff expertise and build-up

resilience

To remain at a sub-optimal

level of staff training and

accumulate delays

Phase 1-2 (3 years) $754,000

To mainstream Desertification,

Land Degradation and Drought

(DLDD) into relevant national

policies, strategies and plans

Efficiency of knowledge

sharing systems,

information flow,

consistency of the body of national policies

-To set up websites, training, and

the distribution of reports to relevant

agencies

-To enable the National Focal Point to share relevant DLDD information

products with stakeholders at the

national level

-To launch a communication

strategy addressing DLDD,

including synergies with climate

change and biodiversity

conservation

To fail to address DLDD to

the extent and in the

timeframe that it requires

Phase 2-4 (2 years) $104,000


120

CONSOLIDATION TRACK


COSTS (USD)

To finalize the National Land

Policy or Sustainable Land

Management (SLM) policy

-To establish an authoritative policy

advisory body for SLM

-To mainstream SLM within

government agencies

Unfulfilled SLM policy Phase 2-4 (short-

term)

$60,000

To strengthen the links

between the UNCCD and the

poverty and livelihoods

elements of the sustainable

development agenda, including Millennium Development

Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable

Development Goals (SDGs)

Trans-program integration To harmonize policy efforts to the

service of the development agenda

Inefficient integration of

development policy

initiatives

10 years

$49,000

2.

CA

PA

CIT

Y B

UIL

DIN

G,

AW

AR

EN

ES

S

AN

D T

RA

ININ

G

To strive for a mainstreaming of

Sustainable Land Management (SLM) within educational

establishments

To improve and enhance the

knowledge base on SLM

Lack of SLM information

and knowledge in the education establishments for

future land users/ managers

Phase 1-3, (7 years)

$287,000

To enhance the knowledge and

capacity of land users to perform

ecologically appropriate land

restoration

Constituency-level

monitoring of land

degradation

Capacity-building among direct land

users

To cause damage at the

micro-level

Phase 1-2, (1-5

years)

$680,000

To acquire the capacity to

cascade regional (international)

forecasts of Drought Early

Warning Systems (DEWS) to the

national context and analytical

capacity of staff working on

DEWS

Data appropriation and

interpretation Data

management skills

Enhanced synergy with overarching

DEWS Capacity-building

Sub-optimal use of

internationally-generated

knowledge Sub-optimal

generation and use of

scientific data

Phase 1, (6 months) $93,000


121

CONSOLIDATION TRACK


COSTS (USD)

To conduct awareness of, and

training in, specialized areas such

as the process of dealing with

drought in order to develop

appropriate actions in case of

unforeseen occurrence

Environmental

readiness

Capacity-building Apathy to risk of drought Phase 1, (6 months) $115,000

To enhance the capacity to

establish and manage/maintain

systematic central databases with quality checks

Degree of centralization

and management of

data

In all agencies under the

Department of Natural Resources

and the Environment and in all benefitting from training on

UNCCD Reporting (Alignment of

NAP Project)

Sub-optimal flow of scientific

data

Phase 1-4 (10

years)

$98,000

3. R

& D

To produce sound scientific

evidence and to determine the

relative roles of drivers of Desertification, Land

Degradation and Drought

(DLDD)

Analysis of biophysical and

socioeconomic drivers of DLDD

Insufficient grasp of DLDD

and dire consequences on

mitigation policies

Phase 1-2, (4 years)

$287,000

To conduct a national scientific

study on land degradation

Undertake a national scientific study

on DLDD and interactions with

climate change, and biodiversity

To ignore long-term

environmental risks

Phase 2, (2 years) $220,200


122

5.5 Barriers to implementing the financial strategy for SLM

Several additional barriers may jeopardize the implementation of the financial strategy for SLM

activities in Guyana and these will need to be addressed. Table 9 identifies these barriers.

Table 9: Barriers to implementing the financial strategy for SLM

Limitations of the institutional framework

These include:

Fragmented policy and legislative environment

Lack of an overarching policy and programme framework for

SLM

Overlapping mandates amongst agencies

Limited understanding of roles and responsibilities amongst stakeholders

Insufficient co-operation and co-ordination between institutions with common objectives or

with complementary functions

Lack of guidelines for SLM in the energy, livestock transport and housing sectors

Limited capacity to monitor and enforce SLM practices

III-defined property rights

Absence of appropriate forms of property rights or tenure. Security plays a key role in

controlling access to natural resources. It also defines responsibilities for actions needed to

ensure their sustainability. Where security of tenure is absent, or where property rights are poorly

defined, this may lead to unregulated exploitation of resources by multiple users (e.g. miners and

loggers), each with competing objectives. This also makes it difficult to penalise those who

degrade natural resources or reward those who enhance or protect them.

Economic barrier

Start-up and transaction costs pose a barrier to implementing SLM. The fact that the benefits of

SLM are likely to accrue mainly in the medium and long term, make individual action to engage

in SLM less attractive and, given the levels of poverty in Guyana, often impossible.

Public good dilemma

Most of the land in Guyana is State owned, which means that the land is commonly seen as a

public good. This has led to a squatting phenomenon with inadequate infrastructure provision,

which has led to land degradation. In addition, squatters do not own the land and are therefore

unlikely to invest in it through SLM.

Income inequality

The large income inequality in Guyana may drive degradation in particular areas such as along


123

the coastal strip and in the hinterland areas by forcing those in poverty to eke out a living on the

only resource available to them: the land.

Failure to value non-market benefits of land

Although ecosystem services provide and contribute to global public goods, many of these

goods, because of their nature are not generally traded in the marketplace. As such, they are not

generally ascribed a price and are thus regarded, to all intents and purposes, as free. This

apparent absence of value can create problems of unregulated use and over–exploitation. Thus,

while markets tend to assign value to the production of private goods and services, these prices

seldom capture the full costs (or benefits) of production decisions, including the social and

environmental impacts or unintended by-products (or externalities) and ecosystem damage.


124

6 UNCCD REPORTING PROCESS FOR THE ALIGNED NAP

This chapter describes Guyana’s efforts to upgrade its reporting capability and process to the

UNCCD.

A concerted effort to enhance the ability of Guyana to report to the UNCCD is being undertaken.

This effort emphasizes and addresses the specific challenges which the GOG has faced when

reporting to the UNCCD.

6.1 Performance Review and Assessment of Implementation System (PRAIS)

Reporting on the comprehensive set of impact and performance indicators for the strategic and

operational objectives of the UNCCD Strategy, requires the involvement of many stakeholders,

in particular government agencies from the different sectors. This requires strong coordination

by the Guyana Lands & Surveys Commission.

One of the current challenges with reporting is the difficulty to ensure that agencies report on the

specific indicators for which they possess the necessary data. In order to enhance GL&SC’s

ability to coordinate and facilitate the collection of data for reporting to the UNCCD, a new data

base, PRAIS, is being constructed through a process led by GL&SC. The database (which can

be accessed at gyprais.gov.gy) enables GL&SC to coordinate the collation of specific

data/indicators from the relevant/respective agencies. Both Stakeholder and Administrator

manuals are available for the use of this database

Figure 8: Home Page of PRAIS Database


125

7 IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK AND SCHEDULE

This chapter lays out the broad framework for implementation of the Aligned NAP. This

framework takes into consideration existing frameworks, which the Aligned NAP builds upon

and integrates into since the NAP is intended to be seen within the broader context of Guyana’s

national development efforts.

Implementation of the NAP is being done through projects and programmes executed by

agencies which fall under the MNRE. For example, the NLUP was prepared by the GL&SC with

funding from the Delegation of European Union and the National Land Degradation Assessment

Study was undertaken by the Capacity Development and Mainstreaming for SLM Project. This

Project also completed other priority actions required by the NAP such as EWS, Watershed

Management, Valuation of resources and public awareness.

Other projects also contribute to activities relating to the NAP, for example projects under the

Amerindian Development Fund and the GEF Small Grants Project. NAP relevant activities are

also being supported by NGOs.

7.1 Coordination, Communication, Synergies

The operationalization and implementation of the Aligned NAP will require coordination,

communication, and synergies.

The GL&SC, as the National Focal Point Agency to the UNCCD, is mandated by inscription

‘1.5’ of the GL&SC’s Strategic Plan 2013-2017 to honour its obligations to the UNCCD. This

mandate is also incorporated in the annual work plan of the Land Use Planning and Policy

section in order to be effectively achieved. Resulting from this commitment, the country’s

national reports have been compiled and submitted to the UNCCD’s secretariat over the past

years.

The approach in completing reports is participatory and cross sectorial and requires inputs from a

wide cross section of stakeholders at the various ministries and departments, sister agencies in

the natural resources and environmental sectors, NGOs, the public and other relevant

stakeholders (see Acknowledgements section of this report). The GL&SC aims to accomplish

this cross sectorial involvement though meetings, focus group sessions, workshops and other

feedback and participatory mechanisms as appropriate.

This Aligned NAP emphasizes the need for enhanced data sharing across sectoral agencies. This

will enable timely and improved access to reliable and high quality data to inform the decision-

making process, reduce duplication of efforts and improve knowledge sharing in a robust and


126

responsive environment. More importantly, improved data sharing will ultimately contribute to

efficiency and effectiveness across agencies.

A strategic communication strategy is critical, both for effectively engaging stakeholders, and for

being able to mainstream the objectives and efforts related to combating DLDD, into national

and local policies, strategies, programmes and projects, as well as more broadly to be able to

reach the broader set of society/stakeholders.

GOG recognizes the strong need to synergize its commitments and efforts to combat DLDD with

those to conserve and sustainably use its biodiversity, as well as those to mitigate and adapt to

climate change.

7.2 Gap Assessment in the implementation of the NAP and priorities for the Aligned

NAP

The Gap assessment below examines the progress of the NAP implementation against the

Operational Objectives of the UNCCD Strategic Plan and provides the priorities to be dealt with

for the aligned NAP. At this stage, the results of the Rapid Stocktaking Study were used to

complete the assessments and implementation schedule as presented in Table 10 below.


127

Table 10: Assessment of Operational Objectives and Expected Outcomes against Guyana’s NAP

Operational

Objectives (OO) Expected Outcomes (EO)

Guyana’s Status

Gaps Recommended Action Addressed through

NAP

Addressed outside of

NAP

OO 1

Advocacy,

awareness raising

and education:

To actively influence

relevant

international,

national and local

processes and actors in adequately

addressing

desertification/land

degradation and

drought-related

issues.

EO 1.1

Desertification/land

degradation and drought

issues and the synergies

with climate change

adaptation/mitigation and

biodiversity conservation

are effectively

communicated among key constituencies at the

international, national and

local levels.

The NAP programme

area on public education

and awareness focused

on assessing the capacity

gaps for sustainable land

management and

designing education and

awareness programme to address these issues, in

particular though

through the National

Capacity Self-

Assessment Process.

Public awareness

activities were project

based and targeted

national and local

communities, including

schools and teachers.

Information was

communicated using

tools such as newsletters,

brochures, posters and

on the GL&SC website.

Collaboration were made

with sector agencies and

local NGO’s involved in

natural resources and conservation activities as

it relates to

Guyana’s progress as

regards sustainable land

management is also

reported nationally and

internationally through

the country’s

performance-based

reporting mechanism

on enabling activities specified in the Joint

Concept Note of the

MoU between the

Governments of

Guyana and Norway.

There is a lack of

adequate, consistent

and targeted

communication,

public awareness

and education

activities for critical

sectors contributing

to land degradation and the population

centers in these “hot

spot” areas.

Inadequate

collaboration

among the focal

point institutions for

the Rio

Conventions to

address issues holistically and to

build on synergies.

Limited public

awareness on NAP

especially for key

sector agencies.

The lack of

adequate awareness

and education by

civil society on land degradation and

drought.

Prepare a DLDD

Communication Strategy

(CS) focused on specific

and/or critical areas of the

aligned NAP.

The CS should contain an

action plan and targeted

population, and examines synergies with the other

Rio Conventions, present

adequate resources for

implementation and

allows for collaboration

with national stakeholders

and civil society to

promote SLM. (CONS-O-

1).

Establish knowledge

sharing systems, to enable

the National Focal Point to share relevant DLDD

information products with

stakeholders at the

national level.

A Special Taskforce needs

to be established with civil

society (including

vulnerable communities);

private and public

institutions to campaign

for SLM Practices in DLDD affected areas and

conservation practices.

EO 1.2

Desertification/land

degradation and drought

issues are addressed in

relevant international

forums, including those

pertaining to agricultural trade, climate change

adaptation, biodiversity

conservation and

sustainable use, rural

development, sustainable

development and poverty

reduction.

The UNCCD reporting

process allows for

communicating

progress at the international level.

Thus far Guyana has

submitted four national

reports to the

Secretariat.

EO 1.3

Civil society organizations

(CSOs) and the scientific

community in the North and the South are increasingly


128

Operational


Guyana’s Status


NAP


NAP

engaged as stakeholders in

the Convention processes

and desertification/land

degradation and drought are

addressed in their advocacy,

awareness raising and

education initiatives.

implementing the SLM

project. Build capacity through

education programmes for

land users to perform

ecologically appropriate

landscape management

and restoration, working

on DLDD ( LADA

Methodology, Land

Management), and

technical staff to monitor and analyze DLDD using

satellite imagery and

remote sensing.

Develop a Training

Programme for SLM for

University of Guyana,

targeted short courses and

workshops in areas such

as GIS, LUP, EIA, and

others.

OO 2

Policy framework:

To support the creation of enabling

environments for

promoting solutions

to combat


degradation and

mitigate the effects of

drought

EO 2.1 Policy, institutional,

financial and socio-

economic drivers of


degradation and barriers to

sustainable land

management are assessed,

and appropriate measures to

remove these barriers are

recommended.

Drivers of land

degradation and barriers

to sustainable land management were

assessed and outputs

prepared under the

project Capacity

Development and

Mainstreaming for

Sustainable Land

Management. Drivers of

land degradation were

identified inclusive of

assessments of pilot

Lack of updated

data on the extent of

land degradation.

Lack of data related

to land degradation

in the agriculture

sector.

Integrate SLM

interventions into the national land use plan and

key sector plans

recognizing these sectors

contribute to land

degradation.

Mainstream DLDD into

relevant national policies,

strategies and plans,

including description of

time frames, instruments,

and, division of roles and


129

Operational


Guyana’s Status


NAP


NAP

sites.

A draft National Land

Use Policy was prepared

and implementation

commenced on a

National Land Use Plan

to address drivers for

land degradation and

barriers to sustainable

land management.

In particular a Land Use

System of tier levels of

planning was prepared

and methodologies for

regional land use

planning developed.

responsibilities. The Focal

Point Agency should

provide incentives and

services to those actors

willing to adapt their

programs and policies.

Strengthen Environmental

and Social Impact

Assessment (ESIA)

requirements, focusing particularly on monitoring

and enforcement of

mitigation measures set

out in environmental

management plans.

Establish an authoritative

policy advisory body for

SLM, and develop a

National Land Policy.

(The Policy should

provide guidance for the

revision of the National Land Use Plan and

mainstream as the key

national planning tool).

Harmonize and strengthen

institutional arrangements

for land planning, central

database for drought

management and

management, natural

resources, environmental

management, and for disaster preparedness and

EO 2.2

Affected country Parties

revise their national action programmes (NAPs) into

strategic documents

supported by biophysical

and socio-economic

baseline information and

include them in integrated

investment frameworks.

The process to revise

and align Guyana’s NAP

with the 10-year

Strategic Plan has

commenced.

At that stage it is

expected that the aligned

NAP will include

biophysical and socio-

economic baseline

information and included

in the integrated

investment framework.

EO 2.3


integrate their NAPs and

In 2012 the Guyana

Lands and Surveys

Commission prepared a

Lack of a fully

functional land use

policy to guide


130

Operational


Guyana’s Status


NAP


NAP

sustainable land

management and land

degradation issues into

development planning and

relevant sectoral and

investment plans and

policies.

report with

recommendations to

integrate sustainable

land management into

the draft land use policy.

sustainable land

management or an

overarching land

policy.

response especially

drought.

EO 2.4

Developed country Parties

mainstream UNCCD objectives and sustainable

land management

interventions into their

development cooperation

programmes/projects in line

with their support to

national sectoral and

investment plans.

A report was prepared

in 2012 that

recommended

integration of

Sustainable Land

Management into the

draft Land Use

Policy.

Lack of sustainable

land management

interventions

integrated into sectoral plans of

critical sectors

driving land

degradation.

Lack of direct

involvement of the

tourism sector

recognizing that

ecotourism is an

emerging activity.

EO 2.5

Mutually reinforcing

measures among desertification/land

degradation action

programmes and

biodiversity and climate

change mitigation and

adaptation are introduced or

strengthened so as to

enhance the impact of

interventions.

There is lack of

structured

coordination among

the focal points

responsible for the

Rio Conventions.


131

Operational


Guyana’s Status


NAP


NAP

OO 3

Science, technology

& knowledge:

To become a global

authority on

scientific and

technical knowledge

pertaining to


degradation and

mitigation of the effects of drought.

EO 3.1

National monitoring and

vulnerability assessment on


economic trends in affected

countries are supported.


vulnerability

assessments were

executed during the

assessment of land

degradation project.

Extensive forest

monitoring by the GFC

is undertaken annually

and in particular to

advance the national

system to monitor,

report and verify

emissions and removals

of carbon from the

forest.

Vulnerability

Assessments were

conducted for the

national

communications on

climate change.

Guyana’s second

national

communication was

prepared in 2012 and

the country has commenced the process

of preparing its Third

National

Communication

Limited

coordination with

key

agencies/institutions

responsible for

biophysical and

socioeconomic

monitoring.

Lack of adequate

baseline data

readily available in

a useable format for

reporting.


vulnerability assessment

of the integrity of the


economic environment.

Develop sound scientific

evidence to undertake the

following:-

o determine the drivers

of DLDD, conduct analysis of

biophysical and

socioeconomic

drivers of DLDD

o the interactions with

climate change,

DLDD, and

biodiversity.(CONS-

O-10)

Conduct a National

Scientific Land

Degradation Study and a programme of research for

land planning and

management. This should

include monitoring of

watershed areas/aquifers.

Undertake a

comprehensive economic

analysis of the costs of the

loss of ecosystem services

due to land degradation

and drought.

Develop DLDD projects

which include climate

EO 3.2

A baseline based on the

most robust data available

on biophysical and socio-

economic trends is

developed and relevant

scientific approaches are

gradually harmonized.

EO 3.3


132

Operational


Guyana’s Status


NAP


NAP

Knowledge on biophysical

and socio-economic factors

and on their interactions in

affected areas is improved

to enable better decision-

making.

change adaptation,

drought mitigation and

restoration of degraded

land, and develop tools to

assist decision-making.

Develop a mechanism to

document / store

traditional and local

technical knowledge, best

practices and success stories.

EO 3.4

Knowledge of the

interactions between climate

change adaptation, drought

mitigation and restoration of degraded land in affected

areas is improved to

develop tools to assist

decision-making.

Restoration of degraded

lands in the mining

sector is currently being

undertaken through a

Land Reclamation Project.

Specific reference

to interactions

between climate

change adaptation,

drought mitigation and restoration of

degraded land were

not undertaken.

EO 3.5

Effective knowledge-

sharing systems, including

traditional knowledge, are

in place at the global,

regional, sub regional and

national levels to support

policymakers and end users,

including through the identification and sharing of

best practices and success

stories.

The NAP programme

area on traditional

knowledge included

developing a mechanism

to gather local

knowledge and

information on a regular

basis, developing data-

base and inventorising best-practices, and

incorporating traditional

and local knowledge

best practice into the

system for land planning

and management. Some

of the initiatives include:

(i) storing best practice

information in PRAIS

reports and other reports

from GGMC‟s Land

The lack of a fully

functional,

repository or

knowledge sharing

system to support

decision-makers

information such as

successes and best

practices.


133

Operational


Guyana’s Status


NAP


NAP

Reclamation Project ;

(ii) developing and

implementing a

community monitoring,

reporting and

verification (MRV)

system in the North

Rupununi for

integration onto the

wider national

Monitoring, Reporting and Verification System,

managed by the GFC, is

based on local

knowledge and will

provide a “best practice‟

model for communities

across the country; (iii)

preparing management

plans for Amerindian

areas and these are

developed by communities such as the

recently produced

management plan for the

South Central Rupununi

Area (Wapichan

Territory).

EO 3.6

Science and technology

networks and institutions

relevant to


degradation and drought are engaged to support UNCCD

Engagements with the

University of Guyana

were limited to

education and capacity

building and pilots

related to re-vegetation of mined out sites.


134

Operational


Guyana’s Status


NAP


NAP

implementation.

OO 4

Capacity building:

To identify and

address capacity-

building needs to

prevent and reverse


degradation and

mitigate the effects of drought.

EO 4.1

Countries which have

carried out the national

capacity self-assessment

(NCSA) implement the

resulting action plans to

develop the necessary

capacity at the individual,

institutional and systemic

levels to tackle


degradation and drought issues at the national and

local levels.

Guyana conducted a

national capacity self-

assessment process and

prepared a gap analyses

and skills assessment

focusing on the UNCCD

as a part of the NCSA

Strategy and Action

Plan. A number of recommendations were

made to address the

capacity gaps both at the

intuitional level and

through the engagements

with other intuitions. In

this regard, a number of

training activities were

conducted at the regional

and local levels

including Disaster Risk

Management and training to promote good

practices in sustainable

land management.

Training workshops

were also conducted

under the SLM project

covering a range of

topics such as land

degradation assessments

in dry lands,

methodology early

Capacity gaps were

addressed through

initiatives outside of the

GL&SC and these

include (i) training for

hinterland communities

on sustainable use of

the forests to address

issues of forest fires and conservation

practices through the

efforts of the GFC and

NGOs; (ii) programmes

offered by the

University of Guyana

covers some of the

target areas and

contribute to SLM.

These include SEES

Bachelor of Science

(B.Sc.) Degree in Environmental

Sciences and Bachelor

of Arts (B.A.) Degrees

in Geography and

Postgraduate

Diploma/Master of

Science (MSc) Degree

in Environmental

Management, with two

specialisation streams

in Natural Resources

Continue to implement the

recommendations outlined in

the NCSA Action Plan (and updated NCSA) for the

UNCCD.

Undertake Gap Analyses

for SLM


135

Operational


Guyana’s Status


NAP


NAP

warning systems

watershed management,

resource valuation and

GIS.

Management; and

Climate Change and

Disaster Management

and other programmes

offered by the Faculties

of Agriculture and

Forestry, Technology

and Natural Sciences;

(iii) specialized training

courses for the forestry

and mining sectors offered by the Forestry

Training Centre Inc.

and the Guyana Mining

School and Training

Centre Inc.; (iv)

training conducted by

NGOs (World Wildlife

Fund (WWF),

Iwokrama, CI, and

other institutions such

as Bina Hill Institute contributes to SLM.

EO 4.2

Those countries which have

not previously undertaken

capacity needs assessments

engage in relevant

assessments processes to

identify capacity needs for

tackling desertification/land

degradation and drought at

the national and local levels

Not applicable


136

Operational


Guyana’s Status


NAP


NAP

OO 5

Financing &

technology

transfer:

To mobilize and

improve the

targeting and

coordination of

national,

bilateral and

multilateral financial and technological

resources in order

to increase their

impact and

effectiveness

EO 5.1


develop integrated

investment frameworks for

leveraging national,

bilateral and multilateral

resources with a view to

increasing the effectiveness

and impact of interventions.

A medium term

Investment Plan for

Sustainable

Development was

prepared that set out the

framework for

investments and

identified multiple

sources of financing.

Increase efforts to

mobilize financial

resources from

international financial

institutions, facilities and

funds, including Foreign

Direct Investment (FDI),

private foreign

investment, NGOs and

CSOs, and GEF (Integrated Financing

Strategy (IFS) Report).

Adequate Funding should

be allocated for training,

particularly in the areas of

remote sensing, GIS,

Multi Criteria Decision

Analysis, and, Information

management systems.

Encourage donors to use

debt swap mechanism to

promote and finance sustainable land

management

interventions.

Networking to access

adequate financing for

effective economic and

policy incentives and

technical support, notably

within the framework of

South-South and North-

South cooperation.

EO 5.2

Developed country Parties provide substantial,

adequate, timely and

predictable financial

resources to support

domestic initiatives to

reverse and prevent


degradation and mitigate the

effects of drought.

EO 5.3

Parties increase their efforts

to mobilize financial

resources from international financial institutions,

facilities and funds,

including the GEF, by

promoting the

UNCCD/Sustainable land

management (SLM) agenda

within the governing bodies

of these institutions.

The Medium Term

Investment Plan for

Sustainable Land

Management identified a number of funding

sources including market

mechanism, government

financing, bilateral and

multilateral, as well as,

mechanism such as

UNCCD, UNFCCC, and

CBD.

EO 5.4

Innovative sources of

finance and financing


137

Operational


Guyana’s Status


NAP


NAP

mechanisms are identified

to combat


degradation and mitigate the

effects of drought, including

from the private sector,

market-based mechanisms,

trade, foundations and

CSOs, and other financing

mechanisms for climate

change adaptation and mitigation, biodiversity

conservation and

sustainable use and for

hunger and poverty

reduction.

EO 5.5

Access to technology by

affected country Parties is

facilitated through adequate

financing, effective

economic and policy

incentives and technical support, notably within the

framework of South-South

and North-South

cooperation.


138

7.3 Proposed priority actions to combat DLDD and promote sustainable land

management

The process undertaken by the GOG for the preparation of the Aligned NAP has identified a set

of priorities which individually and combined, will ensure that DLDD and SLM are firmly

addressed in policies, strategies, programmes and projects in Guyana. The approach to

determine and select these priorities is qualitative and non-scientific based on qualitative

assessment of current and anticipated future risks, threats and drivers of those threats.

Box 1: Key priority actions to combat DLDD and promote SLM

1. Establish and strengthen monitoring systems for all sectors, including GIS capacities.

2. Increase and Strengthen awareness among all stakeholders about the impacts of drought, land

degradation and deforestation.

3. Strengthen scientific foundations, research and development:

a. Relationships between DLDD, climate change and biodiversity

b. Strengthen the SLM foundations as a means to resolve DLDD, climate change and

biodiversity simultaneously

c. Comprehensive analysis of the economic losses to society caused by DLDD

4. Establish and operationalize a drought early warning system.

5. Develop and implement a coordination and communication strategy to enhance governance,

coordination, and stakeholder engagement, of efforts to combat DLDD.

6. Special effort to enhance the enforcement of mining regulations.

7. Implement the Integrated Finance Strategy and Framework.

8. Implement data and knowledge management system.

9. Develop capacity building efforts.

7.4 Overall timeframe for Aligned NAP implementation

The time frame for this Aligned NAP is 2015-2025. The Aligned NAP will be implemented in

four phases as follows:

Phase 1: 1 – 3 years




These three-year phases are intended to enable the Aligned NAP to be synchronized with the

national policy and planning processes and cycles. Table 11 below shows the implementation

phases for the areas of focus/priorities for the Aligned NAP.


139

Table 11: Implementation phases for the Aligned NAP

Phase Areas of Focus/Priority for Guyana’s Aligned NAP

Phases 1-4 1. Increasing Public Awareness and Education.

Phases 2 - 3 2. Strengthening sustainable land management and policy

framework.

Phases 2 – 4 3. Mainstreaming sustainable land management interventions

and UNCCD objectives into national land use planning

processes and national sectoral and investment plans.

Phase 1-4 4. Strengthening collaboration with focal point institutions for

the Rio Convention and build on synergies.

Phases 1-4 5. Strengthening collaboration with tertiary intuitions to deliver

training and capacity building on specific areas identified in

the NCSA Action Plan for the UNCCD.

Phases 1-4 6. Improving access to, and adequacy of, financial resources for

UNCCD implementation.

7.5 Monitoring and Evaluation.

The GOG will ensure that its efforts to combat DLDD are progressing and that the results of

these efforts will have meaningful impact. To facilitate this, a plan for monitoring and

evaluation of the implementation of the overall Aligned NAP and individual actions/projects has

been developed (See Costed Strategic Framework for the Ministry of Natural Resources and the

Environment 2013-2018, June 2013). The progress and impact of the Aligned NAP will be

reviewed every five years based on evaluation of the established indicators. The responsibility

for monitoring and evaluation will rest with the National Steering Committee.


140

8 CONCLUSIONS

As a signatory to the United Nations Convention on Combating Desertification, Guyana is

strongly committed to meeting its obligations to prevent and mitigate drought, land degradation

and deforestation in the country.

Drought, land degradation and deforestation are of great concern to the Government of Guyana

since these directly and indirectly can cause death, poor health, and in many other ways

negatively affect the livelihood of its peoples, including through: pollution of rivers; reduced fish

stocks in rivers; surface runoff and mud slides; degradation of ecosystems and biodiversity and;

reduced economic productivity.

Guyana continues in its progress towards meeting the Sustainable Development agenda and

meeting the MDG targets.

Guyana is proud of its extensive and unique biodiversity which it is steadfast in protecting for its

present and future generations. The country’s prosperity depends heavily on this biodiversity for

food, medicines, tourism, and other forms of sustenance.

Guyana possesses vast natural resources which are essential for sustaining its development and

which will gradually increase the demand for developing its land and these resources. This

increasing demand is not just for domestic consumption and development; there is a rapidly

growing global demand for these resources, the export of which can become a substantial and

important source of national revenue.

The Government of Guyana will ensure that its economic development both in the short and the

long term, does not cause undue adverse effects on its people, who should be the very

beneficiaries of the development process. There is an increasing perception and understanding

that a good environment contributes to economic growth by reducing risks to people and by

enhancing the business and environment potential. In addition, export markets are increasingly

demanding responsibly harvested and produced goods.

Coordinating and managing the sometimes conflicting demands on the land is very challenging.

As such, the government of Guyana increasingly engages in collaborative management with its

various stakeholders (government agencies, CSOs, businesses, donors, etc.) as a reflection of this

shared responsibility. All levels of society shall have a voice and influence on the future of

Guyana.

The Government of Guyana is making substantial progress in improving and adjusting existing

policies and regulations, as well as designing new ones. These include effective safe guarding

mechanisms, mitigative measures and promotion of more sustainable land use practices. This

Aligned National Action Programme sets out the road map for the Government of Guyana to

continue implementing these plans.


141

It is equally crucial that policies and land use practices are underpinned by science and research.

The role of research and science in developing policies and practices must be strengthened.

Reliable research depends on good data, however there is a lack of reliable data and baselines in

several sectors, as well as limited or no integration of existing datasets.

Importantly, Guyana has a long history with close dependency on and deep knowledge of the

local environment and ecology. Guyana’s policies and practices should be grounded on insights

from its valuable local and traditional knowledge.

The impacts of DLDD further exacerbate the impacts of climate change which Guyana remains

vulnerable to. Conversely, climate change also exacerbates the impacts of DLDD. The risks

posed by rising sea levels threaten the very existence of the Guyanese people who live mostly

along the coastline, on lands which are already often under sea level.

The efforts to combat DLDD will have substantial benefits for biodiversity, which is the basis for

long term food security. These combative efforts will also benefit climate change

mitigation/adaptation since many of the causes and solutions to those problems are to be found in

appropriate SLM practices and improved governance.

The Government of Guyana continues to rigorously pursue the process of strengthening

coordination and cross-sectoral collaboration to ensure integrated approaches to combating

DLDD.


142

9. REFERENCES

1. Guyana Initial National Communication National Circumstances in Response to its

Commitments to the UNFCCC, Cooperative Republic of Guyana represented by the

Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with United Nations Development Programme

with funding from Global Environment Facility, April 2002

2. Project Document, Land Reclamation Project (LRP), June 2014

3. Project Identification Form for the CCCD Project, UNDP, 2015

4. Minamata Initial Assessment, UNDP, 2015

5. National Stocktaking Activity in Support of an Aligned National Action Plan, Rapid

Stocktaking Report, February 2015

6. Costed Strategic Framework for the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment

2013-2018, June 2013

7. Disaster Risk Management Policy, CDC, 2013

8. Early Warning Systems Framework, CDC, 2013

9. CDC Guyana. “Drought”. (2009).

http://www.cdc.gy/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=74&Itemid=83

10. CDC Guyana. “Multi-Hazard Disaster Preparedness & Response Plan” (2013).

11. CDC Guyana. “National Integrated Disaster Risk Mitigation Plan and Implementation

Strategy for Guyana” (2013).

12. CDC Guyana. “Progress and challenges in Disaster Risk Management in Guyana”

(2014).

13. Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, 2012. Funding Needs Assessment for

Sustainable Land Management Priorities Final Report.

14. GL&SC, 2012. Recommendations of Sustainable Land Management (SLM) in Guyana’s

draft Land Use Policy.

15. GL&SC 2006. Guyana’s National Action Programme to Combat Desertification

16. GL&SC. 2006. Guyana’s National Action Programme to combat Land Degradation

17. Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC), UNDP, GEF. “Early Warning

System Study” (2010)

18. Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission. “Guyana National Action Program To Combat

Land Degradation” (2006).

19. Guyana Lands & Surveys Commission, “Funding Needs Assessment for Sustainable

Land Management Priorities”, May 2012

20. Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission National Focal Point (UNCCD) “Guyana

National Action Programme to Combat Land Degradation”, May 2006

21. Guyana Lands & Surveys Commission, “Funding Needs Assessment for Sustainable

Land Management Priorities”, May 2012

22. Guyana Lands & Surveys Commission, “Guyana National Action Programme to combat

land degradation (in accordance with the United Nations Convention to Combat

Desertification - UNCCD)”, May 2016


143

23. Guyana Lands & Surveys Commission, “Development of a Medium Term Investment

Plan for Sustainable Land Management”, May 2012

24. Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, United Nations Development Programme &

Global Environment Facility “National Assessment of Land Degradation in Guyana:

Diagnostic Report”, 2008

25. Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (2012) Guyana National Land Use Plan.

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Georgetown, Guyana

26. Guyana Land and Surveys Commission (2006). Guyana National Action Programme to

combat land degradation, Georgetown, Guyana.

27. Bank of Guyana 2014 Annual Report

28. Guyana National Budget. 2014.

29. Guyana Bureau of Statistics. 2014. Guyana Population and Housing Census, 2012.

Preliminary Report.

30. Guyana Chronicle, 2011. National Water Resources System Launched.

http://guyanachronicle.com/national-water-resources-system-launched/

31. Guyana Forestry Commission. 2013. Guyana REDD+ Monitoring Reporting and

Verification System (MRVS), Year 3 Interim Measures Report – 01 January 2012 – 31

December 2012, Version 3

32. GoG (2013). Guyana National Land Use Plan. Guyana Lands and Surveys

Commissions, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Georgetown, Guyana

33. GoG (2013). The Guyana Poverty Reduction Strategy paper. Georgetown, Guyana.

34. GoG (2014) Guyana’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2012-2020).

Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment, EPA. Georgetown, Guyana.

35. GoG (2012). Rio+20 National Report: A Green Economy and Institutional Framework

for Sustainable Development: Guyana Context. Georgetown, Guyana.

36. GoG (2009). Forests Act 2009. Georgetown, Guyana

37. GoG (2002). Water and Sewerage Act Chapter 30:01-Laws of Guyana, Georgetown

Guyana

38. GoG (1998) Land Registry Act-Chapter 5:02. Laws of Guyana, Georgetown, Guyana

39. GoG (1998). Town and Country Planning Act. Chapter 20:01 Laws of Guyana ,

Georgetown, Guyana

40. GoG (1998) Drainage and Irrigation Act- Laws of Guyana, Georgetown, Guyana

41. GoG (1998). Education Act Chapter 39:01 Laws of Guyana, Georgetown, Guyana.

42. GoG (1998). Environmental Protection Act: Chapter 20:05. Georgetown, Guyana

43. GoG (1998). Guyana Forestry Commission Act-Laws of Guyana, Georgetown, Guyana

44. GoG (1998). Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission Act-Chapter 59:05. Laws of

Guyana, Georgetown, Guyana.

45. GoG (1998). Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary Agricultural Development Authority Act –

Laws of Guyana, Georgetown Guyana


144

46. GoG (1957). Acquisition of Land (Land Settlement Act) Cap. 62:06. Laws of Guyana,

Georgetown, Guyana

47. Guyana Forestry Commission (2011). National Forest Plan, Georgetown, Guyana

48. Guyana Forestry Commission (2011). National Forestry Policy Statement, Georgetown,

Guyana.

49. MOA (2013). A national Strategy for Agriculture in Guyana 2013-2020. Ministry of

Agriculture, Georgetown, Guyana.

50. MOA (2011). Food and Nutrition Security Strategy for Guyana. Government of Guyana,

Georgetown Guyana

51. Guyana National Task Force. “Guyana Climate Change Action Plan” (2001).

52. Guyana Times. “Regions 1, 9 hit by drought”. (2015).

www.guyanatimesgy.com/2015/04/11/regions-1-9-hit-by-drought/

53. Guyana: El Niño Drought. An appeal. (1998).

https://www.ifrc.org/docs/appeals/98/1498.pdf

54. Hydrometeorological Service Guyana. “Early Warning System in Guyana”. (No date).

https://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/.../Mr.%20Cummings%20(Guyana).pdf

55. Hydrometeorological Service, Guyana. “Drought Monitoring in Guyana” (No date).

drought.unl.edu/Portals/0/docs/workshops/.../Thursday/Seulall.pdf

56. C. Isabella Bovolo, Geoff Parkin and Thomas Wagner,2009. Initial Assessment of the

Climate of Guyana and the Region with a Focus on Iwokrama. School of Civil

Engineering & Geosciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne., UK.

57. Chandarpal., Gitanjali, 2014. Climate Change Impacts on Guyana and Current

Initiatives. Office of Climate Change, Office of the President, Guyana,

http://www.caribank.org/uploads/2014/05/Climate-Change-Impacts-on-Guyana-and-

Current-Initiatives-by-Gitanjjali-Chandarpal.pdf

58. Cummings, Garvin, Hydrometeorological Service, Ministry of Agriculture. EWS in

Guyana .Hydromet Presentation, RECO Bogota.

https://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/drr/events/TECORAIII/Session4/Mr.%20Cummings%

20(Guyana).pdf

59. Da Silva P., 2014. Avifaunal Diversity in a Mangrove Reserve in Guyana, South

America; International Journal of Science Environmental and Technology, Vol.3, No.1,

2014. 23-32.

60. Environmental Protection Agency. 2014. Revision of the National Biodiversity Strategy

and Action Plan Stocktaking Report.

61. Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, Subregional Headquarters

for the Caribbean, 2013. Third International Conference on Small Island Developing

States. Caribbean Regional Synthesis Report.

http://www.sids2014.org/content/documents/250Synthesis%20Report%20Final%2020%

20August%202013.pdf


145

62. Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Bonn 2007.

Technical Paper. National Action Programmes under UNCCD – Rules and Reality.

http://www.desertifikation.de/uploads/media/07-02-01_Technical_Paper_NAP.pdf

63. FAO, 2013. Guyana UN-Water Country Brief,

http://www.zaragoza.es/contenidos/medioambiente/onu/1026_eng_res5_unwater_briefs

_guyana.pdf

64. Joint statement on a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) on Forest Law

Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) between Guyana and the European

Union, Georgetown, 2012.

http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/guyana/documents/press_corner/euguyanaflegt.pdf

65. Keller, Marius et al. 2011. Review of Current and Planned Adaptation Action: South

America. - Guyana. International Institute for Sustainable Development.

http://www.adaptationpartnership.org/sites/default/files/LAC%20South_America%20Co

untry%20profiles%20%28Guyana%29.pdf

66. Met Office, FitzRoy Road, Exeter, Devon, EX1 3PB United Kingdom, 2012. Case

study: Guyana Hydrometeorological Office.

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/media/pdf/q/7/Guyana_Case_study.pdf

67. Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment,2012. Costed Strategic Framework.

http://www.nre.gov.gy/PDF/Costed%20Strategic%20Framework%20for%20the%20MN

RE%20V5_final.pdf

68. World Bank, 2014. Decision-Making and Investment Strategies for Managing Flood

Risk in Guyana. Insights into DRM. Issue #6- July 2014.

http://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/disasterriskmanagement/publication/insights-in-

drm-latin-america-caribbean

69. “Drought Early Warning Systems in the Context of Drought Preparedness and

Mitigation”. (2000). http://www.preventionweb.net/files/1882_VL102149.pdf.

70. Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA). “El Nino blamed for

low rainfall levels” (2015).

https://www.cdema.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&

id=34&Itemid=266&limitstart=25

71. Colorado Climate Center. “Enhanced drought monitoring and early warning activities in

the Upper Colorado River Basin”.

www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/outreach/proceedings/.../NDoesken.pdf

72. Colorado Climate Center. “NIDIS Upper Colorado River Regional Drought Early

Warning System” (2015). climate.colostate.edu/~drought/

73. Columbia University. “El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO); Ocean-Atmosphere

Interactions” (2007). http://eesc.columbia.edu/courses/ees/climate/lectures/enso.html

74. Desinventar Inventory System of the Effects of Disasters. “Available databases”.

http://www.desinventar.org/


146

75. DEWFORA. “Implementing drought early warning systems in Africa: policy lessons

and future needs” (2013). https://www.unesco-

ihe.org/sites/default/files/dewfora_policy_brief_africa_-_digital_version.pdf

76. DROUGHT-R&SPI. “Review of current drought monitoring systems and identification

of (further) monitoring requirements” (2013). www.eu-drought.org/.../DROUGHT-R-

SPI-Technical-Report-No-33.

77. Dyer, J. A. “A Drought Early Warning System for Prairie Pasture Land” (2013).

http://dx.doi.org/10.4296/cwrj1304005

78. Edwards, Laura. “Foundations for a Regional Drought Early Warning System in the

Missouri River Basin” (2015). http://docslide.us/science/foundations-for-a-regional-

drought-early-warning-system-in-the-missouri-river-basin.html

79. IFAD. “Risk Management - Drought Early-Warning Systems and Contingency Plans

Risk Management - Drought Early-Warning Systems and Contingency Plans”.

www.ifad.org/lrkm/range/drought.htm

80. Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo, Japan. “Satellite-based drought

monitoring and warning system – New Zealand” (2015). webgms.iis.u-

tokyo.ac.jp/DMEWS/New Zealand/search.php

81. Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo, Japan. “Satellite-based drought

monitoring and warning system” (2015). webgms.iis.u-tokyo.ac.jp/DMEWS/

82. International Strategy for Disaster Reduction . “Drought Risk Reduction Framework and

Practices: Contributing to the Implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action”

(2009). http://www.unisdr.org/files/11541_DroughtRiskReduction2009library.pdf.

83. MWAR-LAC. “Development of National Drought Atlases for the Caribbean Countries”.

www.cazalac.org/mwar_lac/index.php?id=54

84. National Drought Management Authority (Kenya). “Welcome to NDMA - Kenya”.

www.ndma.go.ke/

85. National Drought Mitigation Center (Nebraska, USA). “Caribbean Drought Training

Workshop” (2012).

http://drought.unl.edu/NewsOutreach/Outreach/Workshops/CaribbeanDroughtTraining

Workshop.aspx

86. National Drought Mitigation Center (Nebraska, USA). “Drought Early Warning

Systems in the Context of Drought

87. National Drought Mitigation Center (Nebraska, USA). “Drought Early Warning

Systems” (2009). http://www.wamis.org/agm/meetings/wies09/S10-Svoboda.pdf

88. National Drought Mitigation Center (Nebraska, USA). “Drought Monitoring and Early

Warning Information Systems (DEWIS): Tools and Techniques” (2012).

drought.unl.edu/Portals/0/docs/.../Svoboda_DEWS_Caribbean.pdf

89. National Drought Mitigation Center. “National Drought Mitigation Center Drought

Services: Collaborative Efforts Towards Drought Early Warning and Information

Systems” (2015). https://www.drought.uni-freiburg.de/Publications/.../Svoboda


147

90. Manual on Compliance With and Enforcement of Multilateral Environment Agreements.

UNEP. Downloaded from http://www.oas.org/dsd/Tool-

kit/Documentos/ModulleVI/Compliance%20with%20MEAs.pdf

91. United Nations Environment Programme . “Climate Early Warning System Feasibility

Report: Early Warning Systems and Hazard Prediction” (2012).

www.unep.org/science/chief.../76/.../EWS_Report_Final_Version1.pdf.

92. United Nations Environment Programme. “Early Warning Systems: State-of-Art

Analysis and Future Directions” (No date).

na.unep.net/siouxfalls/publications/early_warning.pdf.

93. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. “Vulnerability and

adaptation to climate change in small island developing states”.

https://unfccc.int/files/adaptation/adverse_effects_and_response_measures_art_48/appli

cation/pdf/200702_sids_adaptation_bg.pdf

94. World Food Program. “Early-Warning System Sees Drought Coming In Namibia”

(2013).https://www.wfp.org/aid-professionals/blog/blog/early-warning-system-sees-

drought-coming-namibia

95. World Meteorological Organization. “Inter-Regional Workshop on Indices and Early

Warning Systems for Drought” (2009).

http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/wcp/agm/meetings/wies09/wies09_present.php

96. Green, E. (Undated). National Integrated Disaster Risk Management Plan and

Implementation Strategy for Guyana. Civil Defence Commission, Georgetown, Guyana

97. UNDP (2013) Disaster Risk Management Policy, Georgetown Guyana

98. UNCCD. Ten Year Strategy Leaflet

http://www.unccd.int/Lists/SiteDocumentLibrary/10YearStrategy/Strategy-leaflet-

eng.pdf

99. UNCCD TST Issues Brief: Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought

100. UN General Assembly, 2012. High-level meeting on addressing desertification, land

degradation and drought in the context of sustainable development and poverty

eradication.

101. Global Mechanism, “Glossary for Performance and Impact Indicators, Financial Flows

and Best Practices, Review of financial flows for the implementation of the Convention

(UNCCD)”, 2010, modified by the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of

the Convention, Germany, 2013

102. Squires V.R., “Alignment of National Action Programmes with UNCCD 10 Year

Strategy Through Use of Integrated Financing Strategy Tools”, 2013

103. UNCCD, “Consideration of ways and means of promoting know-how and technology

transfer for combating desertification and/or mitigating the effects of drought, as well as

of promoting experience sharing and information exchange among parties and interested

institutions and organizations”, Committee for the review of the implementation of the

Convention, UNCCD, Bonn, 2-11 May 2005


148

104. UNCCD, “The 10-year strategic plan and framework to enhance the implementation of

the Convention”, 2008

105. UNCCD, Alignment of National Action Programmes with UNCCD 10 Year Strategy

Through Use of Integrated Financing Strategy Tools, February 2013

106. UNCCD, “Evaluation of the effectiveness of national action programmes to implement

the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification”, 2015

107. Weerasinghe, R.P.M (2013). Managing Arid Areas and Sand Dunes in Sri Lanka in

Heshmati A.G. and Squires R.V (eds). Combating desertification in Asia, Africa and the

Middle East: Proven Practice. Springer Dordrecht Heidelbergy, New York, London

108. Global Mechanism, “Practical Guide to Designing Integrated Financing Strategies”,

2009

109. USAID. “Innovative Weather Model Helps Millions in Caribbean Prepare for Drought”.

https://www.usaid.gov/news-information/frontlines/science-technology-innovation-and-

partnerships/innovative-weather-model

110. Walters, Rochelle, Michael Taylor & Tannecia Stephenson. “Some Caribbean Drought

Research at Csgm, Mona”.

http://drought.unl.edu/Portals/0/docs/workshops/03222012_Kingston_Jamaica/Drought

%20Research%20in%20the%20Caribbean.pdf

111. Epstein, Mario (2015)- Guyana Drought Early Warning Protocol

112. Atyang, Agnes, 2015 Drought Early System Protocol

113. Bai ZG, Dent DL, Olsson L, Schaepma ME., 2008. Global assessment of land

degradation and improvement. Identification by remote sensing. Report 2008/01, ISRIC

– World Soil Information: Wageningen.

114. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. “El Niño & Other Oscillations”.

www.whoi.edu/main/topic/el-nino-other-oscillations.

115. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. “Reports to the Nation: El Nino and Climate

Prediction”. www.atmos.washington.edu/gcg/RTN/rtnt.html

116. Newitz, Annalee. “Are You Doing Anything to Prepare for the "Godzilla" El Niño?”

(2015). http://gizmodo.com/are-you-doing-anything-to-prepare-for-the-godzilla-el-

1723982315

117. NOAA – Climate Prediction Center. “Frequently Asked Questions About El Niño and

La Niña”.

http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/ensostuff/ensofaq.shtml

118. NOAA/NIDIS. “What is National Integrated Drought Information System?” (2015).

wwa.colorado.edu › Workshops & Events › WWA Workshops

119. Pulwarty, R. S. & Mannava V. K . Sivakuman. “Information systems in a changing

climate: Early warnings and drought risk management” (2014).

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212094714000218

120. Reports to the Nation. “El Niño and Climate Prediction”.

http://www.atmos.washington.edu/gcg/RTN/rtnt.html

http://drought.unl.edu/Portals/0/docs/workshops/03222012_Kingston_Jamaica/Drought%20Research%20in%20the%20Caribbean.pdf

http://drought.unl.edu/Portals/0/docs/workshops/03222012_Kingston_Jamaica/Drought%20Research%20in%20the%20Caribbean.pdf

http://www.whoi.edu/main/topic/el-nino-other-oscillations


149

121. State Climate Office of North Carolina. “Global Patterns - El Niño-Southern Oscillation

(ENSO)”. http://climate.ncsu.edu/climate/patterns/ENSO.html

122. Trotman, A. & Robert Webb. “Drought Early Warning Information Systems: reducing

drought risks in a changing climate”. http://www.climate-services.org/iccs-3-parallel-

session-drought-early-warning-information-systems-reducing-drought-risks-changing

123. Trotman, A.R. & David A. Ferrel. “Drought Impacts and Early Warning in the

Caribbean - The Drought of 2009-2010”.

https://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/drr/events/Barbados/Pres/4-CIMH-Drought.pdf.

124. Report of the first session of the Partnership Initiative on Sustainable Land Management

High Level Meeting, held in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago 6 May 2011.

http://cnirdregional.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/PISLM-High-Level-

Comprehensive-Report.pdf

https://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/drr/events/Barbados/Pres/4-CIMH-Drought.pdf


150

10. APPENDICES

Appendix 1: Posters used for public awareness activities


151


152

Appendix 2: Photographs of Project Activities

Presentation of Stakeholders’ Comments Awareness materials procured by the Project

The Project participated at GuyExpo, 2014 Focus Group Session were held with Agencies

Training on the use of the Database for the

preparation of the PRAIS Report

Field trip to a Mining Area to identify sites for

monitoring land degradation


153

Appendix 3

Map of Land Cover/ Land Use


154

Map showing Development Options, Hotspots and Infrastructure Linkages


155

Map showing Available Land (Includes Prospecting Areas)


156

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Contact the National Focal Point Agency to the UNCCD:

Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission

22 Upper Hadfield Street, Durban Backlands,

G\town, Guyana

Website: lands.gov.gy

Email: [email protected]

Tel: (592) 226 0527 Ext 107, 206

Aligned National Action Plan to Combat Land Degradation ...

Documents

Transcript of Aligned National Action Plan to Combat Land Degradation ...